Abstract This essay examines the importance of ?The Crowd? in modernist writing and how the dramatic growth of urban areas affected lifestyle at the end of the 19th century. Examining in detail The Man of The Crowd by Poe as well as Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent and the poems of Baudelaire and relating them to modernist thinkers.
Tags: conrad, crowds, modern, modernity, new, modernism, literature
Abstract This paper reviews the book "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind" by Gustave LeBone, which studies the psychology of crowds and their impact on society. The paper explains that the book was written earlier in this century, by a Frenchman, who relied on French examples. "The Crowd" is somewhat outdated, claims the paper, but could be applied to today's crowd mechanisms -- namely, mass media, especially television, which are used to arouse crowds into action. The author of this paper argues that the media has assumed the leadership role in creating, inciting and defusing crowds.
From the Paper "The old cliche says there is safety in numbers. In a crowd, then, according to the author individual ideas and personalities are subjugated to the single will of the crowd. The crowd forms one personality, mass personality, perhaps, but with a single goal to be achieved. The goal could be political overthrow, labor union strikes or wage settlements, joy at some momentous event (think of the parades of the astronauts that first landed on the moon), or showing support for some religious, foreign policy, or festive event. The crowds in St. Peter's square at Christmas to hear the Pope's message to the world is a crowd with a single purpose, therefore."
Tags: people, mass, media, psychology, rodney, king, personality, persona
Abstract The paper shows that in his prose-poem "Crowds", Charles Baudelaire explores the themes of egoism, individualism, conformity. He delves deeply into the idea of the artist as a philosopher, and the artist's ability to experience the world. The paper discusses how, in our modern, individualistic society, it is tempting to shift Baudelaire's analysis to the common individual. It is the very individualism of modern society that allows us to reject his arguments in "Crowds" as adolescent egoism. The author of the paper shows that ultimately, however, both the modern reader and Charles Baudelaire fail in the attempt to stand apart from the conformity of the crowd - despite twin beliefs that individualism holds them apart from the crowd, both Baudelaire and the modern reader are ultimately consumed by the swelling mass of humanity.
From the Paper "While Baudelaire's poem explores the role of the poet in the crowd, in the fervent individualism of modern North American Society his analysis can now shift to the common person. Certainly, each of us sees ourselves as individualistic. Our trials, struggles, joys and experiences are truly our own, and make us unique. We are superior to everyone else in the crowd; we are unique, and like poet, we stand apart. Today, of course, the crowd is made up of countless people, of which each "unique" individual is only a small part. It is in our modern individual. Ironically, today's crowd may achieve its conformity despite of the very exercise of modern individualism."
Abstract This paper discusses the poem "Crowds" by Charles Baudelaire about an idle man who roams through the Parisian crowd and while moving through the crowd, notices and ponders over everyone and everything. It analyzes the three main themes of the prose namely, individuality, egoism and conformity. It examines how the basic notion is that each human being like the character in the prose sees himself as a unique individual of society and how the qualities, which truly make a person an individual in its right meaning, are his sorrows, happiness, obstacles, triumphs and experiences.
From the Paper "It is this very concept of individualism, which enables the audience to discard Baudelaire's argument as a result of egoism. No matter how one sees himself above others or how distinguished, he eventually is the same as anyone else as far as his origination or orientation is concerned. All men possess some similar attributes and as a result are not completely unique from others. Even though they might think they are but in reality they are not and will eventually be described as humans, having the same human nature, which in some ways possesses the same qualities as others. Since each person recognizes himself as incomparable to others, to accept this notion may prove to be somewhat a matter of self-pride and egoism."
Abstract This paper reviews some of the existing literature regarding crowds and rioting and the emotions and motivations that accompany crowd and riot behavior. The paper also offers an analysis of the articles and compares their different theories.
From the Paper "When examining crowds, food riots and race riots, different types of emotions, including anger, fear and elation, are often highly visible in crowd and riot behavior. Still, we can no longer return to the days before E.P. Thompson published his watershed piece of "moral indignation" that has been behind so many historical grievances and even the tactics that rioters use when expressing those grievances."
Abstract This paper will analyze the novel "Far From the Maddening Crowd" by Thomas Hardy. The essence of this paper will be to uncover the themes, as told by the author, of Victorian women within the scope of the book. By analyzing certain aspects of this literature, we can understand the way that women were treated in the 19th century in the perception of a gentleman writer of the period. Hardy projects a strong, yet tragic view of women in the story and this will be thesis of this paper.
Abstract This paper explains how Thomas Hardy examines these themes in his novel, "Far From the Madding Crowd", with the characters of Gabriel, Frank and Boldwood. It discusses how Gabriel is portrayed as a man who learns from his circumstances in life, whether he deserves them or not. He becomes a character that embodies strength and determination despite the odds. It also points out how in contrast, Frank and Boldwood are characters that do not completely develop because they choose not to.
From the Paper "Gabriel exhibits maturity because he is willing to learn from his devastating circumstances. He does not spend a lot of time asking why or feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he processes things rather quickly and moves on. For example, he is very realistic when he accepts the fact that he alone is responsible for not insuring his sheep. One of his most admirable characteristics is the fact that he is willing to see the best of things. For instance, after he loses his flock, he states, "Thank God I am not married: what would she have done in the poverty now coming upon me!" (Chapter 5). Gabriel does not resign himself to self-pity. Instead he accepts the reality of his situation and decides to make something of it."
Abstract This paper analyzes the 1957 film, "A Face in the Crowd". It contends that it is a masterful film and director Elia Kazan created a work that was both cynical and illuminating about the way that politics works in the United States. The author explores the theme of power corrupting the citizenry. It also analyzes the central character of Lonesome Rhodes.
From the Paper "A Face in the Crowd" is a masterful film that is especially worth viewing during election years when as a citizen we must negotiate the path to picking new leaders a path that is filled with misdirection and barriers. Elia Kazan who directed this film created ..."
Abstract This paper examines Joseph Rosen's text, "The Naked Crowd". The paper argues that Rosen's central thesis is strong, but that some of his characterizations of those who fear the worst if a comprehensive surveillance system is not put in place across America to thwart things like terrorism are excessively simplistic. The paper points out that, while lucid and well-written, a case can be made that Rosen's suggestion that Congress is a better protector of privacy rights than the courts, is one that certainly needs to be called into question. The writer believes that Rosen's book is a welcome addition to the literature - but certainly not impervious to criticism.
From the Paper "Joseph Rosen's text begins by first looking at how biometrics firms - far more so than any other American businesses after 9/11 - gained from the brutal terrorist attacks that took so many lives. What made the matter so ironic was that, far from deterring crime, reliable empirical studies suggested that biometrical technologies did nothing at all to lower violent crime rates. Despite, discrete surveillance cameras became the new "in thing" in America - just as they had, for a variety of other reasons, become popular in Great Britain during the 1990s."
Abstract This paper examines what happened during the Skimmington Riots and the so-called rough music accompaniments that took place in England and Colonial North America, events which were largely crowd phenomena that were highly influenced by the tradition of charivaris in France in the late Middle Ages. To determine precisely what happened during these social conflict events and why, the paper provides a critical analysis of recent historic writings concerning the history of crowd violence, the effect of colonial laws, or the lack of laws on such incidents, the role of women and society and culture's effect on the colonies. A summary of the research is provided in the conclusion.
Outline:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Crowd Violence in the Late 18th and Early 19th Centuries
The Role of Women
The Effect of Colonial Laws, or the Lack of Laws
Society and Culture's Effect in the American Colonies
Conclusion
From the Paper "In some cases, laborers (but not their families) were paid in food and drink as part of their wages and some likely kept fowl or a pig, and cottagers, of course, produced much of their own food; nevertheless, poor landless families ate bread and porridge, on occasion supplemented by milk, ale, cheese, eggs, or cheap meat, a diet that was far removed from the same level enjoyed by the contemporary gentry or even medieval peasants, who enjoyed puddings, butter, cheese, fish, and meats of all kinds (Kulikoff 19). Even during periods of plenty, many laborers and their families experienced malnutrition; in times of paucity, though, others simply died of starvation while some resorted to stealing food or joining in food riots (Kulikoff 19). "
Examines the traits of Bathsheba in Thomas Hardy's novel "Far from the Madding Crowd" and relates these with her relationships with the three men in her life.
1,410 words (approx. 5.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 46.95
Abstract This paper analyzes Thomas Hardy's character Bathsheba Everdene from the novel ?Far from the Madding Crowd.? It focuses on her personality traits and how these traits attracted her to each of the three men in her life. It also analyzes these three men to a lesser degree, but only in relation to her.
From the paper:
?In the Thomas Hardy novel Far from the Madding Crowd, the most interesting aspect of the book is most assuredly the interaction between Bathsheba Everdene and her three admirers. The plot was centered around those relationships, and there would not have been much of a storyline had those encounters been removed. It is therefore desirable to know as much as possible about what made these suitors attractive to Bathsheba, as it would provide great insight into her character as well as lead to a more complete understanding of the book. With a little analysis, it can be seen that the personality traits in Bathsheba that led to her attraction to Sergeant Troy, Farmer Boldwood, and Gabriel Oak, respectively, are her most primary and basic tendencies, and add much to her complexity.?
Tags: analysis, bathsheba, boldwood, character, gabriel, hardy, literature, victorian, york
Abstract The paper begins by exploring the nature of the invisibility referred to in the novel, and the application of this invisibility to the real world. Next, the paper discusses the various incidents of invisibility within a crowd, or instances of the protagonist going unrecognized in a crowd. These instances are analyzed individually and the racial conflict in the novel is explored. The paper traces the process that the protagonist undergoes to become "invisible" and concludes by considering how he deals with his "invisibility" once it is achieved.
From the Paper "The main character in The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison is invisible in a metaphorical sense, invisible both to himself and to others, and his invisibility is even greater in crowds than in smaller groups. Indeed, on one level he represents the invisibility of all modern human beings, especially those who live in cities, because they can be invisible even when standing in a crowd full of people who can see but who do not see. The Invisible Man in this novel is a black man who is invisible in white society because he is black, but is also invisible in black society because of the way he assumes various roles accepted by white society. The Invisible Man is invisible to himself because he has been sublimating his real personality beneath the roles he assumes and so has never existed as a real person with his own character. The nature of invisibility in crowds can be analyzed throughout this book and shows that invisibility does not mean not being seen but not being recognized, and the author presents the Invisible Man in a series of crowds, showing how he moves through them without being part of them, without being recognized."
Abstract The essay uses many examples from the text to illustrate how clothing can be used as a marker of the strong value system in the Victorian value system. It also proves how Hardy undermines such beliefs; examples are given of traditional notions of class, identity and masculinity being questionned. The essay also uses clothing to explore the subjugation of women, morality and sexuality in the Victorian era.
From the Paper "In the Victorian era appearances were important. In order to be accepted by society, the individual needed to be seen to conform to its values. In Far From the Madding Crowd, such rules and values are evident by what is worn. Clothing, therefore, acts as another marker of society's control over the individual. The power of such control is seen to weaken, however, as the ever-prevalent modern world begins to infect the public consciousness. As the old order disintegrates, clothing becomes an effective disguise for the individual to hide behind."
Abstract This paper examines the way in which New York is portrayed in these two classic movies. The paper shows how in both films, New York is represented as a foreboding steel and concrete landscape, a haven for cynics who care little about naive newcomers and a center for machinery and industry which often does as much harm as good. The paper compares and contrast the storylines of the two movies - "King Kong" about a huge gorilla monster trying to escape the city but causing panic and havoc in his wake; and "The Crowd" which is about a common man, lost in New York City, seeking to find those basic qualities of success, happiness and home.
From the Paper "The Crowd and King Kong's use of New York, at lease on the surface, seem to be diametrically opposite. Vidor's film was a fable, grown out of and set in the most populist and socialist days of the country, when artists were eager to include the struggle of the common man in their themes. Kong, meanwhile was more of a ?B movie,? less well acted and hinging its success on what at the time were breakthroughts in stop-motion animation and special effects."
Abstract The paper discusses the life and work of author Ray Bradbury. It has a summary of his life, a close reading of one of his short stories, and describes writing styles, themes, and his own thoughts arguing that he was a writer of science fiction. The writers main arguments throughout the paper is that Bradbury's style was more like that of science fiction and not of fantasy. Mainly discusses his work "The Crowd".
From the Paper "Ray Bradbury, mostly known for his work in Fahrenheit 451, was actually a much broader producer of works than most of us have thought. Throughout his lifetime he wrote over 500 stories, plays, screenplays, radio, music, comic books, and poems (Wolfe 61). But an argument about his works has been debated ever since he became a prominent writer. Was he in fact one of the first Science Fiction writers of all time?"
