Abstract The paper argues that "Lara Croft" may seem like an empowering role model for some women because of the way she triumphs in an apparently male-dominated world. However, Lara merely comes across as an object designed to inspire male fantasy as demonstrated by her clothing, demeanor, and relationships, all of which beckon for attention from a predominantly male audience. The paper argues that Lara's haughty behavior and demeanor not only broadcast the false message that a woman needs to be improper to succeed, but are also used in a way to shamelessly draw male attention. Finally, the fact that Lara doesn't have any men in her life at first gives the impression that she is a strong, independent woman. Though, as this paper explores, she is actually quite dependent on her father, while the absence of a male by her side invites the male viewer to occupy that empty space in his imagination.
From the Paper "Thus, male clothing becomes synonymous with victory over males, and Lara ostensibly becomes a symbol of female empowerment as one who transcends the overwhelming obstacles set forth by a male dominated society - all with the aid of her attire. In actuality, however, Lara's victory-by-apparel suggests that if a woman is to succeed in a male dominated world, she must wear a man's clothes, which ultimately disassociates her with her feminine identity, despite the feminine features her clothing may accentuate. Instead of signaling empowerment, Lara's clothes acknowledge that one must possess male traits in order to excel in an openly male-dominated world."
Background and text analysis, dealing with social aspects of "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov (money, power, politics, capitalism, communism, aristocracy, and serfdom).
Abstract In this paper, the writer accentuates the fine lines between rich and poor, landowner and slave, success and failure, that emerge in the play. The politics and economy of Russia were somewhat muddied at the time, and the capitalists, who used to be serfs, were now taking over the aristocracy, whose members did not have money-managing skills. The paper shows how Lyubov Andreyevna and her brother cling to the aristocratic past, Lopakhin is the capitalist (embodiment of the present economy) and Trofimov is a sort of prophet, predicting the rise of communism (though even Chekhov would not live to see that era). Differences in culture, speech, action, demeanor and viewpoints between Firs and Lopakhin; and all the characters (even the servants) are described.
From the Paper "After feudalism was abolished in Russia in 1861, Russia was undergoing some gradual yet drastic economic changes. The growth of entrepreneurial activity was centered around Moscow while St. Petersburg was crumbling with the tsar as he lost authority to the rising merchant class. For centuries, wealth and income had been based solely on the ownership of land. Technically, the serfs were not slaves, but their economic situations forced them into complete submission; their masters could trade them for horses or even dogs. The serfs were freed in 1861, but with no money or property, so for decades, many were still dependent on their masters. It wasn?t until just before the turn of the century that these men began to find their wealth in the form of industrial capitalism (textile production being the most prominent business). Soon these old aristocratic and new capitalist worlds began to battle with each other. This is the Russian economic background of Anton Chekhov's ?The Cherry Orchard.? (Worrall 13) Lyubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya is a middle-aged aristocratic woman who returns from France to find her estate in danger of being subjugated by the rising merchant class, specifically Yermolay Alexyevich Lopakhin. Chekhov does not favor either the aristocrat or the merchant, but stresses the strengths and weaknesses of both groups? ideals. No one person or governmental system is perfect, and everyone's "absurd, unhappy lives" (Lopakhin ? 45) fall victim to the continual change of any society."
Tags: andreyevna, aristocracy, emancipation, landowning, lopakhin, lyubov, ranevskaya, russia
Abstract "Smoking is a factor, and an important factor, in the production of carcinoma in the lung,? wrote Richard Doll and Bradford Hill some fifty years ago. It was this first study which would initiate all others. It was this first study which would be expanded and eventually establish smoking as a major health risk linking it to problems including everything from heart disease to bronchitis, from indigestion to impotence. And it was this first study which would spark the controversies still surrounding smoking, smokers and the tobacco industry. The paper argues that for over fifty years the tobacco industry has repeatedly demonstrated a callous and irresponsible demeanor. Throughout the years, the industry has lied to the public about the harmful effects of cigarettes and they have consciously marketed their product toward youth, minorities and the poor. This paper looks closely at issues surrounding cigarettes, smoking and the multi-billion dollar industry which supports and promotes mass consumption of tobacco throughout the world.
From the Paper "In 1995, ABC News reported that tobacco companies manipulate the amount of nicotine ? the primary addictive ingredient ? in their cigarettes. They do this by removing nicotine from the tobacco and then restoring it, thus making it more potent. Unfortunately, ABC used the term "spike" in their report, leading many to believe that tobacco companies add more nicotine to their product. Though the vast majority of the report was valid, that single word gave the tobacco companies the opening that they required. The executives at Phillip Morris were not amused by the report at all, so they took that opening and sued ABC for ten billion dollars. (Glass, Pg 3)"
Abstract This essay analyzes African author, Chinua Achebe's short story "Civil Peace," The paper specifically interprets the symbolism of the bicycle and the protagonist, Jonathan Iwegbu, as well as his demeanor in the wake of the war.
Abstract This paper looks at the life of President Richard Nixon from his birth up until his resignation from the presidency after the Watergate scandal. It discusses how, as president, he concentrated mostly on foreign affairs, hoping to bring about a generation of peace and a new world order. It also examines how Nixon was a man people loved to hate and how his demeanor was not always affable. It shows that, instead of orchestrating the Watergate Scandal, he may have been responsible for protecting those involved, as well as responsible for instigating the cover up. Nixon has not left a populist legacy, but in some respects, he lives on in current foreign policy and Republican policy rhetoric.
Outline
Introduction
Biography
Nixon's Presidency
The Watergate Scandal
Conclusion
Bibliography
From the Paper "As Vice President, Nixon took on major duties in the Eisenhower Administration. Nominated for President in 1960, he lost by a narrow margin to John F. Kennedy. (Kennedy, Nixon and Vanocur, 1996) In 1962, Nixon ran unsuccessfully for Governor of California. This second loss led Nixon to bitterly announce: "you won't have Nixon to kick around anymore." However, he re-emerged as a presidential candidate in 1968 and ran a successful campaign against Democrat Hubert Humphrey and third-party candidate George C. Wallace. His accomplishments while in office included revenue sharing, the end of the draft, new anticrime laws, and a broad environmental program. As he had promised, he appointed Justices of conservative philosophy to the Supreme Court."
Abstract This paper examines who Menem is, who he was, how he achieved his power. It then show what it all means for Argentina in its quest for economic growth and political stability in the 21st century. The paper further discusses how his scandals and autocratic demeanor brought about the end to his presidency.
From the Paper "Menem received a law degree from the University of Cordoba in 1958, and practiced law until, at age 33, he entered politics, and did so successfully. Menem became governor of La Rioja, where he served two terms, the first from 1973 to 1976, the second from 1983 to 1989. Why the interruption? Because in 1976, he was arrested and imprisoned during Argentina's military coup. When he was finally released after serving some five years in jail,, he returned to politics, and won election of his province again two years later. He was eager to run for the Presidency, and campaigned much as the original Perons did, as someone whose goal was to improve the lives of the poor. While this assured him not merely being elected, but winning by a landslide, it soon became obvious that his original campaign promises to look out for Argentina's poor was just empty rhetoric. In fact, soon after he was installed, he introduced some sweeping reforms, which included privatization of many of the government-subsidized organizations on which the poor depended. By privatizing, he literally handed over the reins of much of former government activities to those who were in it for a decent profit. At the same time, because of rising inflation and inability to improve exports, he downsized the spending of government to an almost alarming degree."
Abstract This paper examines the legacy of leadership, compromise, vision and obstacles that created the Washington Presidency and the lasting impact George Washington has had on every succeeding American presidency since his term.
From the Paper "Who was George Washington? We all know about his generalship. It was his fairness in straddling the various arguments about the Constitution and not really taking sides that "it was assumed that Washington would be the first President, but the Convention, not anticipating the rise of a two-party system, expected a free-for-all after the General." George Washington was, in effect a sort of buffer between the known of the past, and the unknown of the new nation in the future. As James Madison put it: "We are in a wilderness without a single footstep to guide us." Washington was a known quantity and quality, Benjamin Franklin, who might have seemed a more logical choice, was too old, and the rebellious Madison and Jefferson were too young, and too liberal in many ways. Washington became the obvious consensus President."
This paper explains that underneath the surface of President Clinton's 1993 speech "What Would Martin Luther King Say", presented to an audience of black ministers in Memphis are some ugly social comments.
Abstract The paper stresses that President Bill Clinton's Speech "What Would Martin Luther King Say" failed to address the fact that the destruction of families in black culture, which he condemns as a cause of crime, is closely tied to a racially discriminatory war on drugs, overwhelming poverty and lack of access to birth control methods. The author points out that throughout the speech, Clinton was putting words into Martin Luther King's mouth that King himself would never have spoken, such as condemning ghetto violence while simultaneously subtly claiming that the military is the answer to the black man's problem, which are directly opposite to the basic tenets of King's philosophy. The paper relates that a third major flaw is that Clinton addresses the black ministers with a severe racial hubris, never making any mention of the racial differences that might call into question his naive brotherly demeanor.
From the Paper "The president does not criticize continued educational inequality, disparity in income and treatment within the justice system, or continued racial segregation in every sector of society except, perhaps, the military (where lower-income black soldiers serve and die in disparate large numbers -- they represent 22% of soldiers and 12% of the population, according to IMDiversity.com.) His gall is turned entirely on a perceived moral decay in the black American community, and here he focuses on stories of young black males committing crimes and young black women having children out of wedlock, speaking out about the lack of "structure, role-modeling, discipline..." in black families. After discussing Martin Luther King's supposed pride in the strides made so far in our culture, Clinton moved immediately to discussing a recent case in which a 13-year-old black child committed murder with an automatic weapon, killing other children."
Abstract This paper presents an overview of the life and career of nurse Jane Delano. The paper specifically focuses on Delano's career as the director of the Red Cross Nursing Service. The paper concludes that Jane Delano is remembered today for her grit, her compassion, her intelligence and her calm demeanor, even when she was faced with the most disastrous situations.
From the Paper "It must be noted that nurses have always been involved in the provision of services by the Red Cross, and most especially during times of intense conflict like for example a war, or during times of natural disasters, like floods or earthquakes. Historically, the Red Cross and its association with nurse's dates as far back as the time of the yellow fever epidemic in the year 1888, and thereafter, during the time of the Johnston flood in 1889."
Tags: hygiene, volunteers, publicity, disasters, home
Examines the influence of early anthropologists, such as B. Mallinowski and E. E. Evans-Pritchard, on recent ideas about the anthropologist's role in the field.
Abstract This paper reviews the history of ethnographic field research methodology used by anthropologists, from interviewing travelers to modern immersion into the culture.. The paper points out that B. Mallinowski and E. E. Evans-Pritchard felt that role of the anthropologist is not as a passive observer, detached from the culture which is being studied. Rather, they believed that the field anthropologist should be an active participant whose sole task is to understand the group by becoming part of it. Modern anthropologists, the paper relates, need to engage with the culture they are studying, sometimes even to immerse themselves within it at the temporary cost of their own identity in order to fully experience and understand the culture of the 'other'.
From the Paper "However Oakley's, and in fact any anthropologist's, observation and participation within any culture carries the risk of influencing the behavior of the people are studying, resulting in an artificial vision of their world. In "Anthropology Today", Paul (1953) wrote that the researcher's social role in the field was a determining factor in the information that would be gathered. This is where contemporary researchers seemed to have learned from Malinowski and early anthropologists."
Tags: travelers, expeditions, role, demeanor, other
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in Tolstoy's 'Alyosha the Pot', the life of a peasant is told with such abject complacency that it both ridicules and perverts the way the poor were seen in pre-revolutionary Russia. The writer maintains that Alyosha's demeanor throughout Tolstoy's short story is that of the faithful lapdog; obedient and always following the master's words. The writer discusses that Tolstoy switches the way the story is detailed and instead of a bland world with a colorful hero the reader is given a bland hero with a wicked world much akin to a fairy tale; in short he becomes Cinderella. The writer notes that Tolstoy demonstrates that while the peasant may do things willingly and be treated as a tool, underneath the dutifulness and complacency there are actual dreams, wants, and needs. The aggravation of the reader as for the lack of Alyosha's aspirations is only testament to Tolstoy's demonstration that everyone has wants and to want is to be human. The writer concludes that Tolstoy shows, paradoxically, that everyone is human through the example of someone that is alien to human aspiration.
From the Paper "Traditionally the help married in czarist Russia, it was something that could not be avoided given the living conditions and the similar social standing; this would be no different with Alyosha. After some time working for his employers he developed a crush on the cook, Ustinya, as expected. As in most settings it is here that love, as always, complicates matters and it is here that Alyosha's simplicity magnify root emotion into something more. Alyosha's lack of nuanced personality were skillfully crafted by Tolstoy so that, once the plateau of characterization was reached, anything different would become a bumpy ride of feeling. Alyosha's blunt intentions of marrying Ustinya are not played out as usual, she reciprocates but his simplistic nature leads him to see it as a different kind of love, a love of convenience but love nonetheless. It is here where Alyosha shows signs of being the ardent man that the reader first thought he could be, he has a plan and someone to share his life with. Yet, it is the will of others that he must obey, not just as the employee, but as what his personality dictates, dutiful to a fault."
