Abstract This paper discusses H. W. Brands novel The Reckless Decade: America in the 1890s,and is a review of the work. Through discussion of Brand's thesis in relation to the work, as well as underlying themes present in the novel, the paper relates Brands' views on the history surrounding the last decade of the 1800s. The paper further discusses Brand's views on this period, as well as offers opinions about the book overall.
From the Paper "H. W. Brands, author of nineteen books and The Reckless Decade: America in the 1890s, has created a work that's purpose is to lead the reader into the past so that he or she is capable of understanding the present ("H.W. Brands"). Brands discusses a period in the American landscape in which the economy, employment, and equality were becoming monumental concerns for the American people. His focus throughout the novel is on providing a journey through the American past that those in the United States can understand in order to better our world today. He further provides an account of events that changed the entire history of the United States and that aided our society in an evolution that was both destructive, and forward thinking all at once. By the 1890s Brands contends that the vast frontier of America had all but disappeared (Lamb 1)."
Abstract This paper examines how Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray" and Thomas Mann's "Death in Venice" are literary works situated in the cultural phenomenon known as decadence. This cultural phenomenon began in the late nineteenth century and involved the production of a range of interrelated aesthetic, social and sexual personae. It looks at how the most prevalent of these in the work of Wilde and Mann are the beautiful boy, the dandy and the degenerate, because they represent the "Other". It also discusses how both novels also deal with the dichotomy of the Apollonian and Dionysian artistic impulses in literature, which serve to define the calm exterior/decaying interior that codifies decadence.
From the Paper "Felski argues that Decadent literature offers "explicitly feminized male protagonists, who are identified with love of artifice, excess, and everything unnatural." This is certainly true in the case of Dorian Gray. She also mentions the "association of femininity with ornamentation and detail in Western culture." Both Dorian and Tadzio's clothing is described with much attention to the detail and adornments of the garments. Wilde's novel regards the protagonist's cultivation of sense experience, passion and sensation in the pursuit of beauty. Dorian studies exotic perfumes, collects musical instruments and precious stones, and once attended a masquerade ball wearing a costume covered with 560 pearls."
Abstract This paper takes a look back at the turbulent decade of the 60s in America and explains how what Charles Dickens said in the opening paragraph of his famous novel, "A Tale of Two Cities" might well apply to the 1960s. The paper explains how the 1960s had elements that made it both the best of times and the worst of times and that this decade epitomized the worst and the best in America.
From the Paper "For average Americans, it was the beginning of a decade that offered a strong economy; plenty of jobs; large families, unprecedented educational opportunities, liberal thinking, liberal political and social attitudes, and plenty of second chances. Before the end of the decade, use of the birth control pill would be widespread (likely helping to ushering the era of "free love" [there was no such thing as AIDS then] for which the 1960's is perhaps most fondly remembered). "No fault divorce" would facilitate the endings of many unhappy marriages, and much of the former social stigma of divorce, with so many now divorcing under the new rules, seemed to disappear that decade. It was as if, during the first years of the new decade, that the sky was the limit, if even that. For all of those reasons, the 1960's seemed then, at least early on, to truly be both "an epoch of belief" and "the best of times.""
Abstract This paper discusses the 1960s and some of the movements and changes that took place in that decade, noting that times were much affected by a number of events, including a series of assassinations (John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Robert F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King), the development of the Vietnam War, the election of Richard Nixon, and so on. Several social and political movements also affected the course of the decade, among them the Civil Rights Movement, the feminist movement, and political groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
From the Paper "The 1960s was a period of ferment and social change in American life. The times were much affected by a number of events, including a series of assassinations (JFK, Malcolm X, RFK, Martin Luther King), by the development of the Vietnam War, by the election of Richard Nixon, and so on. Several social and political movements also affected the course of the decade, among them the Civil Rights Movement, the feminist movement, and political groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). Much of the ferment began with the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, though some of the seeds were sown earlier. The decade produced great change in how the American public related to their leaders, notably the President. The decade also saw the development of a mass media beyond anything that had existed before, with the ascension of television as the primary medium through which Americans experienced the world."
Abstract This paper examines social and cultural situation of the city of Florence during the 14th and 15th centuries showing how much of a decadent and self-indulgent municipality it was. By understanding the attitude of that time period, it makes it easier to comprehend the mayhem that was brought on during the time of Carnival - the obsession with food, culture and fun.
From the Paper "There is hardly an event that occurs where food is not part of the main affair. Eating for the Italians is more than a physiological requirement; rather, it symbolizes many things, including faith, devotion, and family values. In no other ethnicity would one find such connection with emotion and sustenance to food as one does with the Italians. Implementing a Carnival celebration so many centuries ago just seems to epitomize what the Italian people of the time stood for."
Abstract Cites social, political, economic & artistic accomplishments of the decade. Long-term impact of the 1917 Russian Revolution & growth of power of the Soviet Union. World War I and its effects. Emigration to the U.S. of European immigrants. The Lost Generation. Post war prosperity in the U.S. Effect of Stock Market Crash.
From the Paper "The issue of which decade should be considered the more influential creates a dilemma, for the 1980s are simply too recent to be judged properly, while the influence of the period from 1910 to 1920 is much more apparent and clearly reached far. The two decades are related primarily because the years between them constitute the lifespan of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union came into existence with the Russian Revolution in 1917 and ended with the breakup of the union in 1989. We know what effect the founding of the Soviet Union had on the next seventy years of history and on much of the world, while the consequences of the breakup are only beginning to be discerned and have only had a decade to make any difference at all. By any measure, socially, politically, economically, and artistically, the period from 1910 to 1920 was certainly more..."
Abstract This book report reviews Christopher Isherwood's book 'The Berlin Stories'. The paper highlights examples of the wild, decadent and colorful lifestyle in Berlin before World War II, by tracing the characters portrayed in 3 short stories, 'The Nowarks', 'Sally Bowles' and 'On Reugen Island' contained in this book.
From the Paper "The story that best describes decadent or debauched behavior however is "Sally Bowles." The heroine encountered by Isherwood here is Sally Bowles, a 19-year-old English girl who works as a singer in The Lady Windermere, a cabaret. No doubt a colorful character, Sally exemplifies the wild and wicked lifestyle of her time. Sex for her was a mere trifle. She points out the men she sleeps with no hint of self-consciousness or shame. "That's the man I slept with last night. He makes love marvelously. He's an absolute genius at businesses and he's terribly rich." (Isherwood, 1963, p. 23). Seduction, fun and games, are all part of Sally's way of life as well as that of the people around her. "For heaven's sake, don't leave me alone with this man! Or he'll seduce me down the telephone. He's most terribly passionate" (Isherwood, 1963, p. 22)."
Abstract This paper discusses Thomas Wolfe's essay, "The Me Decade and the Third Great Awakening," which was first published in 1976. The paper shows how Wolfe was one of the few to discredit the so-called awakenings as nothing but destructive movements. The paper discussses the content of the essay and the main crux of Wolfe's arguments presented in the essay.
From the Paper "In this conclusion, we may find a positive comment on the hippie generation and individualistic culture. The real concern of the author is not individualism per se but that this need to recognize "Me" may have gone too far. The desire to be somebody in itself cannot be considered dangerous but it results in serious isolation and unproductive activities some of which are actually anti-social, that is when this desire has gone too far and gives birth to serious of dangerous trends that simply erode the family and social values Americans had once been proud of."
This paper compares three writers and their definitions of "decadence" in art. It talks about Botticelli's Birth of Venus, the Mona Lisa and how some view them as sick and diseased.
Abstract This paper was written for a class about decadence in art and discusses Richard Gilman (author of "Decadence: The Strange Life of an Epithet"), Arthur Symon (author of "The Decadent Movement in Literature") and Walter Pater (author of "The Renaissance"). These three authors have differing views on women in artwork including pictures of the Madonna and Christ child, the Mona Lisa and Botticelli's Birth of Venus.
From the Paper "The most important word used to describe Pater's The Renaissance is "diseased". Symons and Gilman refer repeatedly to the word in describing decadence. "Diseased" is not only the condition of an ill person but also can be the spiritual condition of the mind of a person who sees death and disease in a piece of artwork that most others see as beautiful. Society might construe this deviation from the normal as unhealthy, because, on the whole, society regards anything different from itself as abnormal and thus diseased and in need of being "cured."
Abstract The paper discusses how the political climate of the 1950s was shaped by the Cold War, the fear of Communism, economic changes seen in the rise of big business and the military-industrial complex and by the aftermath of the success of the U.S. in World War II. The paper looks at the Korean War that started the decade and the foundation for the Vietnam War that was set by the end of the decade. The paper also examines the social change and social turmoil, with the Civil Rights Movement's birth. The paper illustrates how this era was not one of absolute peace, although it is seen as peaceful when compared to the demonstrations and protests of the 1960s.
From the Paper "A security crisis developed in the 1950s with the fear of communism and the certainty that subversives had infiltrated nearly every facet of American life. The McCarthy era, as it came to be known, was referred to by many as a witch-hunt. This was a political crisis that was used by Senator McCarthy as a way of elevating himself and boosting his career, but the mass hysteria of the time made it possible for him to do this and also caused others to be accomplices in accusing people of being subversives."
Tags: Cold, War, Communism, Eisenhower, Big, Business, Korea, Vietnam, civil, rights
The author uses theorist Roland Barthes and his claims about culture to argue that the article by Terry and the song by Dylan are both representations of the culture of that decade.
2,395 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 3 sources, 2001, $ 73.95
Abstract This paper looks at the article by Wallace Terry, "Bloods: An Oral History of the Vietnam War by Black Veterans," Wallace Terry, which gives the reader a different perspective of what the war was like in the eyes of a black veteran in the Vietnam War, and Bob Dylan's famous anti-war song "Master of War." To many people, the war against Communism seems natural, that the "myth" or ideology of Democracy is correct, however, theorist Roland Barthes claims that this myth was socially and historically constructed to make people believe this. The author uses theorist Roland Barthes and his claims about culture to argue that the article by Terry and the song by Dylan are both representations of the culture of that decade.
From the Paper "Wallace Terry's article and Bob Dylan's song were not what people just read and listen to in that decade, it was the expression of how the people felt about the Vietnam War. Terry's article reveals to the public the ongoing slaughter of innocent people in Vietnam, and the traumatic experiences these soldiers were going through. Dylan's song, too, reveals how tired the people are of the military authority training men to fight a war they do not want to be involved in. Terry's article and Dylan's song exemplify the ideological tensions of the Vietnam War between two groups, those for the war and those against the war. Those who were against the war were mostly the young generation who didn't want to fight in the war because they felt that they should not be drafted to war at the age of eighteen when they were not even allowed to vote until the age of twenty-one. Many young minorities such as the blacks did not want to fight in the war because they did not want to give their lives for a country that did not even give them their freedom and respect. With implications of anti-war themes, the article and song also illustrate the tensions of the larger society, the people who were for the war. Those who favored war counter-argued that this war would bring economic prosperity to the US, and also reasoned that it was for a good cause, to stop Communism from spreading like wildfire in the world."
Tags: anti-authority, generation, military, racial, tension, war
Abstract This paper focuses on the treatment of African-Americans in television programs spanning decades. Specific shows are discussed (e.g. - "All In The Family", "Sanford & Son"). Conclusions are drawn by the author based on his/her research regarding trends of treatment of African-Americans in mass media.
From the Paper "There is no question that media is a very powerful force in all of our lives. Whether we realize it or not the media is an important factor in molding some of our first opinions as children. That is why it is very important for television to be representing all minorities. Television has not historically done a good job of this. However, it has improved drastically from how things were in the 1950?s. It is also very important that other races are portrayed accurately. If they are portrayed in stereotypical ways, that will be the view that children have before they are old enough to make their own decisions. We need to teach our children about other races in order to live in a world that respects all races."
Abstract The following paper explores two central questions. The first is how Machiavellian argues and supports, in both "The Prince" and "The Discourses," the idea that the welfare of the people is the highest law by analyzing Machiavelli's doctrines and the second is what evidence there is in both works that Machiavelli's ideas were a product of Renaissance humanism.
From the Paper ?One of the most believed scholars in history, Machiavellian, wrote "The Prince" as a part of a larger work which was later known as "The Discourses" According to this work "Discourses", Machiavellian made a great statement of this belief of the political state of the French Empire. His understanding was bolder then that mentioned in The Prince where his argument was more tentative and a bid for a position in Lorenzo's court. Although this view is much merit, it was nevertheless a point of view that was similar in both the works. Both book was intended to inform the ignorant state of self interest aspect of life, and the conviction that man acts through self-interest only when he feels like it.?
Abstract This paper takes a look at the changes which have occurred in the day-to-day running of an office from a PR perspective. Detailed analysis of issues such as stationary, copiers, computer programs and time sheets. The writer shows that the PR officer was previously involved in much nitty-gritty administration but this past decade technology has made this job much less menial.
From the Paper "Thirteen years ago, one of the first articles concentrating on the process of delivering public relations services appeared in Public Relations Journal, which is presently obsolete. A significant shift in the methods of how we provide PR services has occurred in the last decade. One no longer talks about the filing time of piles of documents yet to be typed or proofed by secretaries. Nowadays, in most agencies secretaries are a thing of the past. We have the capabilities to create, edit, and deliver documents at a faster rate than ever before. With our space-age technology such as e-mail, mobile e-mail, remote computing, personal digital assistants, and cellular phones, it is impossible to tell someone else they cannot contact you unless you are at the office or at home. PR professionals have become so caught up in this technological boom that this constant connectivity has taken the place of thinking for some. They just need some time to sit back and think on their own. It is difficult to paint a portrait of office life in the early 1990s. In the business world, ten years is too much time; changes have been made so regularly that no one can honestly remember what happened in a given year, but here are some of the obvious differences:"
Tags: process, public, relations, administration, work, technology, client, time, save
An examination of a variety of restructuring plans that could prevent the current Social Security system to experience funding shortfalls in the next decade
Abstract The following paper discusses projections that the changing demographics of the American population will cause the current social security system to experience funding shortfalls in approximately a decade. This paper discusses the expected changes to the population and various solutions and opinions proposed by current economists, writers and politicians to stave off a threatened funding disaster.
From the Paper ?Social Security is a popular program; it has consistently pumped out millions of monthly checks for 44 million beneficiaries, has reduced poverty among seniors by two thirds over the last 40 years and has allowed people with disabilities to make ends meet (Consumer Reports, 2000).Social Security is a genuine contributor to the sturdiness of the economic system. It's a promise to pay, secured by Treasury securities, which in turn are secured by taxpayers. The government has to use the money currently pledged for whatever the citizens decide Social Security benefits should be (Quinn and Ehrenfeld, 2000).However, the system is not a large bank account in which taxpayers contributions are set aside to pay them back their own money when they retire, as many Americans incorrectly assume. Although 145 million Americans pay part of every paycheck into the Social Security system, the money becomes part of a social insurance program that collects money today and uses it to pay benefits today. Economists call that "pay as you go", but it is very similar to a Ponzi scheme. Ponzi was a swindler who represented that he had a way to make money by utilizing international postal coupons to take advantage of changes in currency exchange rates.?
