Abstract This paper claims that, at first glance, Shakespeare's "Othello" and "The Tempest" could not be more unlike. "Othello" is a tale rooted very firmly in the here-and-now, the actual city of Venice, an important and central location for the Renaissance man. "The Tempest" is a fantasy taking place on a "marvelous" island. However, the paper explains, a closer look reveals that Venice, too, is marvelous and is, moreover, the perfect link between the civilized and the savage. It is no wonder then that the story of the 'noble savage' in the character of "Othello" was placed there. Nor is it any wonder that the less noble savage, Caliban, is found on an island that, while not straddling the literal old and new world orders, nonetheless bears representatives of each. The paper contends that both "Othello" and "The Tempest" are indeed exemplary of the statement, "Europeans contact with people of other cultures during the Renaissance period had a disorienting effect, as it raised the question of who was truly 'civilized,' and who was truly 'savage'." Shakespeare seems to answer that question in both plays, often in ways that may, at first, like the true meaning of Venice, be hidden.
From the Paper "The Renaissance was about discovery, artistic, scientific and geographic. The geographic discoveries led to European's 'finding' new lands-although the lands had clearly been there long before any Europeans sailed to them-and thus to European culture bumping into cultures far different. The Europeans, since they had 'discovered' those other people, found it easy to set themselves up as superior to the discovered populations; that being the case, they then began to colonize the natives of those places, to civilize them (or, as one might say in a more politically sensitive age, Europeanize them, although that sounds even more paternalistic than colonizing). Cefalu argues that hierarchy was central to the European concept of civilization; any culture that lacked masters and subordinates was, therefore, uncivilized. Such as the culture found in "The Tempest"; it paralleled, Cefalu argues, the lack of stratification in the American colonies at the outset (Cefalu 2000)."
Abstract This paper explains that "Donnie Darko" is a film, set in 1988 in Middlesex, Virginia, about a young teenage boy named Donnie Darko, a somewhat disturbed teenager who escapes a weird accident and from then on sees a vision of a large rabbit who makes him believe that the world will end in 28 days. The author points out that, at first, the film may be viewed as a shallow disoriented teen movie but, as critics cite, reveals a much deeper revelation and reflection of American society at this specific time. The paper concludes that the film proves the power of media to educate, free, convict and manipulate; therefore, filmmakers should always be responsible and accountable in their works.
From the Paper "Jim Cunningham, played by Patrick Swayze: This character in the film establishes this "self-help" empire aimed at helping people battle their fears through his therapies and seminars. According to him, mans' proceedings are based on two inert human emotions, fear and love. Hence, bad or negative actions lead to fear and positive or good actions lead to love. His philosophical thought attracted a lot of educational institutions that adopted his line of thought. His numerous therapies on helping people overcome and solve their fears was a magnet. Because of this he became a very influential and famous person. Nevertheless, his hypocrisy would soon be unfolded in an accident. He was discovered to be a pedophile when his mansion was gutted by fire. In his basement was his stash of child pornography materials. It was later referred to as "Kiddie Porn Dungeon"."
Tags: 1980s, satire, homosexuality, teenager, guru
Abstract The paper analyzes the novella, "Year of the Elephant", written by the Moroccan feminist author Leila Abouzied, which takes place within the town of Meknes, Morocco in the later 1950's, following the successful Moroccan War of Independence against French colonialist power. The paper discusses how, as the story opens, Moroccan sovereignty and a strong national sense of independence, pride, and ethnic and religious identity have finally been restored. The paper further analyzes how the character of Zahra, who, alongside her freedom fighter husband of twenty years helped to bring all of this about, is sadder, more displaced, more disoriented, and less confident than she has ever been. The writer concludes that the major strength of Leila Abouzied's novella lies within the author's depiction of Zahra herself, and her painful, but ultimately triumphant, struggle for a new authenticity, self-confidence, and worth.
Outline:
Description
Interpretation
Evaluation
Work Cited
From the Paper "Zahra's personal struggle, moreover, is juxtaposed against her vivid memories of the upheaval and chaos of civil war within a nation in which everyone, not just Zahra, seemed to have temporarily lost his or her sense of place. For Zahra herself, though, this personal sense of chaos and severe displacement lingers well beyond the revolution. Zahra's eventual epiphany is that it is what one recognizes lies within one's self, rather than anything external, that creates and maintains authentic feelings of worth. This novella, like the Algerian feminist author Assia Djebar's novel Children of the New World (1962), is clearly both a feminist and an anti-colonialist work."
Abstract This research paper reviews and examines various studies regarding the phenomenology of drug abuse and addiction in order to gain insight and understanding as to the forces that drive abusive and addictive behavior.
Outline:
Introduction
The Sociology, Psychology and Physiology of Addiction
The Grips of Addiction
From the Paper "What this study suggests is that even when the individual's physical cleansing of the toxic drug is accomplished, that the psychology of the drug continues to be a catalyst for resuming abusive behavior, and that this behavior can be at a subconscious level, the compulsion that drives the individual back to the drug. In this case, Mark has identified stress as a precipitator to the motivation that causes individuals to resume the pattern of drug use, which leads to addiction because of the physiology associated with addictive drug use."
