Abstract A presentation and examination of a Charlie Chaplin Film 'Modern Time' and Robert Lynd's book called "Middletown" which describe the struggle against the dehumanization of the proletarian man by machine and the Industrial age. The author finds that the industrial age, while profitable from a financial standpoint for those who were in charge, dehumanized the proletarian man as well. The machine knocked him out of the running and sent him home to explain to his family that he was no longer able to provide.
From the Paper "The Industrial Age was one that moved mankind ahead in leaps and bounds. Within the few years of its explosion and growth the ability to use technology to speed up tasks and to get them done with precision allowed the world to concentrate on other expansions and needs. The Industrial Age was a boon to those who rode the top of the age to success, however, for many millions around the nation and the world the age actually set them back. The Industrial Age, while profitable form a financial standpoint for those who were in charge, it dehumanized the proletarian man as well. The machine knocked him out of the running and sent him home to explain to his family that he was no longer able to provide. There are two classic examples of what the Industrial Age did regarding the proletarian man. The movie by the late Charlie Chaplin called Modern Time (1956) and the book called Middletown by Robert Lynd both illustrate the ways the machine replaced the man. "
Abstract This paper explains that modernist literature is characterized chiefly by a rejection of 19th-century traditions; thereby, the World War I poets reinvented the conventions of poetic prose, turning ballads of war glory into vivid accounts of horrific tragedy and painful suffering. The author points out that, in Siegfried Sassoon's poem, "On Passing the New Menin Gate" (1928), a short fourteen-line response to the Great War, disenchantment is manifested as cynicism, which establishes the context of the poem as post-war criticism, creating the stylistic technique of poetic social commentary. The paper relates that, while Victorian poetry attempts to criticize the conditions of society, modernism focuses on concrete issues such as Sassoon's contrast of the dehumanizing war and the dehumanizing wall, each a product of man's will to enhance civilization on two different levels.
From the Paper "War exists in Sassoon's poem as a transforming image for poetry and the perception of its reality. In condemning Menin Gate, there manifests an overall disapproval for mankind. Sassoon writes, "Paid are its dim defenders by this pomp; / Paid, with a pile of peace-complacent stone," mocking the excuse which is to replace what has been lost. Following this line he states, "The armies who endured that sullen swamp," a line that is isolated within the poem but comes after this explanation of how the wall is to honor the fallen soldiers. It is possible that Sassoon does this to show the inadequacy of the wall or any memorial in respect to the tribulations the soldiers went through."
Abstract This paper examines Primo Levi's "If This is a Man", which discusses the true nature of man, and his ability to adapt in degrading circumstances, when faced with evil and dehumanization. The paper maintains that although the prisoners of Auschwitz were degraded and demoralized, they were not able to be dehumanized for the choice to give up is a personal decision that cannot be made by another. The paper states that Primo's work provides insight into the lives and nature of the victims of the Holocaust. It concludes that analysis of this text may broaden one's knowledge of the Holocaust and Jewish culture, as well as man's ability to adapt and handle depersonalisation.
From the Paper "In the initiation process that welcomed prisoners to Auschwitz they were stripped of every ounce of their identity that could be taken: "Nothing belongs to us any more; they have taken away our clothes, our shoes, even our hair; if we speak, they will not listen, and if they listen they will not understand." (p.33) Even their names were removed and replaced by numbers, tattooed on their bodies; with which they would be identified: "He is Null Achtzehn. He is not called anything except that, Zero Eighteen, the last three figures of his entry number; as if everyone was aware that only a man is worthy of a name, and that Null Achtzehn is no longer a man" (p.48). The prisoners soon realize that along with individuality all social distinctions and subtleties, good and bad, wise and foolish, the cushions of law, social habits and morals within the camp are reduced to zero. In the concentration camps "there is only survival or death" (p.59). Deprived of all human-defining aspects they begin a new existence as nothing more than laboring units. It is this first initiation process that starts the erosion of the prisoners' humanity."
Abstract This paper explores Toni Morrison's technique of humanizing her characters in the novel "The Bluest Eye" about a young African American girl, Pecola. With themes of racism, incest and child abuse, the author explains Morrison's literary techniques of not dehumanizing the characters that dehumanize Pecola in order for the reader to understand their hatred for Pecola.
From the Paper "In her novel, The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison admits that she did not want to dehumanize the characters that dehumanize Pecola. She succeeds because she presents us with characters that are real without being overdone. She also succeeds because she does not point a finger at any one individual (or race, for that matter) for Pecola's suffering. It is a collective soul that destroys Pecola and we see these characters best when they are painted with true colors. They are not completely good or evil and we must look at them warts and all. Only then can we begin to understand their hatred for Pecola."
From the Paper "'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. is a story literally exaggerated to its limit by showing, in the near future, what it means to be equal in every way by having people not being able to show any form of intelligence or creativity whatsoever. When Harrison Bergeron breaks the chains of government oppression, he dies for his failed cause. He dies because he chooses not to conform to the rest of his oppressive society. His parents, George and Hazel, who are nothing more than two bodies under the government's mind control, can do nothing to save their son or seek justice for his death. The story is not only a reflection of the author's concern with controlling the masses through television, but is also an attack on the idea of enforced equality."
Abstract This paper describes Erich Fromm's perspective on freedom, love, dignity and human nature. The paper explains that, in addition to his professional training and personal philosophy, Fromm's life experiences contributed to his belief that technology, while not a bad thing in itself, can be used in such a way to dehumanize and distort human behavior when it falls into the hands of people who lose the desire to be free and then use that technology to spread their own philosophies.
From the Paper "This was not just an idle question posed by a man who had read a thought-provoking book. It goes to the heart of what Erich Fromm believed about human beings -- not only based on his professional training and personal philosophy, but based as well on some of his life experiences, because Fromm had a ringside seat to two of the most horrific events ever to take place on earth: World War I and World War II. In World War I he saw, as a young man, the first "modern" war. In World War I, countries used mechanized tanks and airplanes as well as other machine-based inventions to fight one of the most destructive wars ever waged on the planet. Fromm saw large-bore guns used to deliver poison gas to the enemy, the first efficient use of chemical warfare."
Abstract This paper examines the struggles of female enslavement, the dehumanizing effects of slavery as well as ultimate escape of author Harriet Jacobs, as detailed so vividly in her book "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." This paper also focuses on Jacobs's gender which lends a certain uniqueness to the experiences surrounding her struggles and her final resulting escape.
From the Paper "Of course, many masters abused their female slaves, certainly lending justification to escape by these women. This is true in the story, as Jacobs describes the events leading to Dr. Flint's abuse. Furthermore, she explains that feelings and emotions that surround many households, particularly between masters and mistresses, because of this sexual abuse. Dr. Flint's abuse of Jacobs, however, led to another form of oppression because of her gender. Mrs. Flint initially offers Jacobs protection from Dr. Flint's advances. Although this offer is made out of jealousy, Mrs. Flint takes Jacobs into her room to sleep at night."
Abstract This paper reviews and analyzes the novel "Fight Club". The paper focuses on how the book demonstrates Marxist theories regarding the dehumanizing impact of capitalism on individuals and culture. The paper discusses the author's belief that economics shapes art and culture. The paper then looks at how these theories are applied to the novel's alienated, troubled narrator.
Abstract This paper describes the war that existed in the Philippines after the Spain's defeat at the hands of the United States during the Spanish-American War. As a direct result of the war, the Philippines were given to the United States and the Filipino people who originally believed that they were fighting a war for freedom and independence against the Spanish begin to turn against American troops who they view as simply another occupying force. The first part of the paper gives a background to the Filipino insurgency and its main leader, General Emilio Aguinaldo. Aguinaldo's tactics of fighting a guerrilla war against American troops is examined, as well as the effectiveness of these attacks on shocking the American public back home. Feeling betrayed by America who promised the Filipino people freedom after the Spanish were defeated, Aguinaldo embarked on a series of deadly attacks on American soldiers in the Philippines. As a result, American troops responded with equal brutality in their reprisals with very little organized military command holding them back. Diaries are heavily cited in this section of the paper, giving primary sources that tell of how desperate the American soldiers were at the time and how they needed to racially dehumanize the enemy in order to commit such vicious acts of reprisal. The second part of the paper deals with how the American press responded to the war. Numerous newspaper articles and other criticisms of the war are given as examples, some written by the early 20th century's most prominent figures such as Mark Twain. The general point of this section is to show how deeply divided the American public was over the war in the Philippines and how many felt that it would lead to American involvement in other world affairs. A direct parallel is also drawn to the Iraq War in modernity. Finally, the paper ends with a detailed account of how individual soldiers from both sides viewed the conflict. The Filipinos clearly viewed the insurgency as a necessary action in order to preserve their promised independence, while many American soldiers were disgusted and frustrated with why they were in the country to begin with, and often responded violently towards the natives since they began to view them as subhuman. The psychology of warfare is briefly discussed, as soldiers often dehumanize the enemy as a means of justification of their own violent behavior. The end of the insurgency is also discussed, with American troops brutally putting down the rebellion and establishing a tight control over the entire area for decades.
From the Paper "On April 11th, 1898, the President of the United States William McKinley went to Congress and asked the elected body to declare war on Spain for their role in oppression overseas and to accommodate public opinion that was strongly anti-Spanish due to the sinking of the United States battleship Maine only a few months earlier that was blamed on Spanish agents. Congress eventually sanctioned the war, and the Spanish-American war commenced with several battles over Spanish colonies such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. The war itself was over fairly quickly, as hostilities were ended only a few months after war was officially declared. The involvement in the former Spanish colonies clearly demonstrated that America had shifted to a strong imperialistic attitude when it came to the Western Hemisphere and indeed the world in general, and would be forced to endure all of the benefits and tribulations that came from being an imperialistic power."
Tags: aguinaldo, american, emilio, filipino, history, philippines, spanish, war, wars
Abstract This paper examines how in Harriet Jacobs' novel, "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl", the narrator takes several steps to assert her status as a person and to make a case against the dehumanization inherent in slavery. It looks at how the dehumanization of Jacobs' and other slaves in the novel is clearly shown through the sexual exploitation that they face and the separation of women and their children. Jacobs continually fights against this degradation and asserts herself as a person. It also discusses how ultimately, Jacobs is successful in obtaining her freedom through extraordinary perseverance and force of will.
From the Paper "Slavery soon became a harsh reality for Harriet. Slaves were owned by white masters and were to do exactly what was asked of them with no exceptions. Black slaves were not seen as humans but merely as property. Slavery for men and women was barbaric and inhumane, but for women, slavery had heart wrenching aspects. "Slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women" (Chapter 14). What she means by this is that women would have to see their children sold and separated as soon as they became profitable. She wanted to make sure that she and her children would not have to endure that fate."
Abstract In this article, the writer maintains that many stories are wrought with messages that are progressive and even revolutionary for their time but are considered archaic in the legacy of the work. The writer notes that two good examples are Charles Dickens in 'Hard Times' and Mark Twain in 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn', which portray both classism and racism. Further, the writer points out that the perceptions of the works detail both a step back into a time when people were openly dehumanized by virtue of the status of their birth and also represent a marginal look toward progress away from dehumanizing and exploiting people. The writer points out that Dickens and Twain both express the need for social change, yet only in the guise of what will be accepted by the masses and the villains. The writer concludes that the demands of the writer often leaves him or her with an uncomfortable feeling of not being able to go far enough in mind and with the pen, but each work reflects the acknowledged need for change.
From the Paper "Dickens' early life reflects a view of the rapidly industrializing England in which he lived, where nature is pushed back, reserved only for those who could afford to live in it or at least visit it, while the urban centers became choked with pollution and poverty as a reflection of the birth of the man woman or child, relegated to it. Though Dickens was a member of the middle class, afforded the luxury of propriety, he was also a writer of words for many and Hard Times itself was written as a serial for his magazine, meant to be received by the masses, with a new sense of empathy and a new sense of hatred toward those who profited from the poor, utilizing self serving ethics like those taught in the early part of the novel by Gradgrind, that were later capitulated at least by him but not by some of his followers."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that to some members of the modern audience, the film 'Pulp Fiction' represents the worst aspects of modern culture and that the critical acclaim it received for its unabashed embrace of violence has led to an increasing amount of violence in films, up to and including the modern horror porn. The writer points out that others argue that the violence in 'Pulp Fiction', while disturbingly real, absolutely excessive, and not representative of daily life, serves a very important purpose. The writer maintains that rather than detracting from the plot, the violence in 'Pulp Fiction' is an essential part of the plot; without which, the movie simply would not exist. The writer concludes that by humanizing the character Marcellus, Tarantino makes a cogent argument for the fact that, as a society, Americans have dehumanized and marginalized a huge segment of people, simply because of their criminal behavior, and that this dehumanization is morally wrong.
From the Paper "Like the other characters in the story, Butch's livelihood depends on violence. However, while Butch's life may have been violent, which is a prerequisite for a professional fighter, the film makes it clear that Butch has not previously been engaged in the type of criminal activity as the story's other leading characters. Therefore, when the audience is introduced to Butch, they see a washed-up has been who is willing to take a dive for money, but who is not entirely comfortable with having made that decision. What the audience does not know is that Butch has not actually decided to throw the fight, but is actually making his own plans to score big on the fight and escape with the money. Somehow knowing that Butch intends to cheat Marcellus, a crime boss, makes Butch seem virtuous in comparison. In addition, there is something underneath Butch's complacent and dopey exterior, and Tarantino uses violence to show the real Butch, who is actually a proud man with a lot of honor, even if his views of what is honorable do not coincide with society's views."
Abstract This paper discusses Kafka's "A Hunger Artist" book. The author discusses the food and cell symbols Kafka utilizes in his book in order to reveal his protagonist's world as ironic, empty and nonspiritual.
From the Paper "In conclusion, Kafka's "A Hunger Artist" uses irony, absurdity, and the loss of history, community, and spirituality to strip down the protagonist and isolate him from the world. He uses symbols like food and the cell to bounce these ideas. And the resonant effect is an ironical individual who makes a conscious choice to lead an empty life. However, this loss of identity was due to both circumstance and because the hunger artist was not offered any other options. "
Tags:dehumanization, isolation, hunger, fasting, hunger, revolutionaries, religious, motives, culture, history
Abstract This paper analyzes and examines Max Weber?s, "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism". The paper goes on to discuss Weber's views concerning bureaucracy and finally examines how capitalism, charisma, and Protestantism affect bureaucracy.
From the paper:
?Although Weber believed that bureaucracy has several advantages, the main one being efficiency in attaining goals, Weber also noted the dysfunctions of bureaucracy in terms of the impact that it had on individuals. For example, while impersonality is important to attaining and maintaining the efficiency of an organization, it is dehumanizing because it views individuals as just another cog in the machine.?
Critical review of novel critiquing materialist U.S. culture. Includes criticism of consumerism, dehumanization, technology, education, politics and media.
2,700 words (approx. 10.8 pages), 1 source, 1999, $ 95.95
From the Paper "In his comic novel White Noise, Don DeLillo critiques the superficial, materialistic, and bewildering culture of the United States in the late twentieth century. Although in some moments the author seems to be suggesting an element of humanity worth respect and/or salvation, in general DeLillo presents a human race utterly lost in a world full of madness, rage, confusion, and, especially, the things of modern consumerism. Prevailing over and under all of this is the "white noise" of the title, what amounts to a stew of sensory input which leaves the individual hypnotized and utterly discontent. American consumerism in the novel has become a religion of sorts, but a religion which gives no consolation or salvation. The American Dream, in theory, may consist of living in a paradise of consumer options, but DeLillo pictures it as a nightmare akin to a low-key.."
