Abstract A book report on "Lincoln" by David Herbert Donald. In essence, what he wanted to do with this book was to (a) keep it to one volume (there have been studies of Lincoln expanding to 10 volumes); and (b) focus very tightly on Lincoln himself as opposed to the historical era.
A unique perspective on how Kurt Lewin's Field Theory may be applied to modern day work in the field of autism in respect to Theory of Mind as outlined by S. Baron-Cohen.
Abstract Kurt Lewin's contributions to the current field of psychology are voluminous, however his name may be more obscure from the average student's list of greatest scientific contributors. Nonetheless this paper provides the opportunity to bring Lewin's Field Theory into relationship with the more modern contributions of S. Baron-Cohen's Theory of Mindreading to discuss its current applications with autism. The paper includes figures.
Paper Outline:
Abstract
History of Kurt Lewin
The Lasting Impact of Cassirer
Field Theory
Theory of Mind
Mindreading
Research in Autism and Theory of Mind
Behavioral Treatment for ASD
Discussion
Field Theory, Theory of Mind and Autism
References
Figures
From the Paper "Relating Theory of mind back to the original equation of Field Theory, the Cognitive Attributes of Theory of Mind belong to the person. Being Mindblind or being a Mindreader is not a function of environment, rather it is an innate quality belonging to the person. Baron-Cohen (1995) believes it to be an adaptive process for survival but regardless of it origination it is within the person and is part of his/her unique lifespace. This point will play into how Theory of Mind and Field Theory may explain why ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) is the most effective treatment for ASD."
Abstract This paper analyzes the novel "Donald Duk" by Frank Chin and discusses the lead character's trials and tribulations of growing up as a Chinese American. It illustrates Donald's inner struggles and eventual understanding of what his place is in society.
From the Paper "His father and his uncle, taking into their hands the matter of setting the young boys priorities and ideas straight, do their best to show him that his reactions in themselves are proof to the unfailing dominance that the white had over him. Finally, with the assistance of his own common sense, they succeed in explaining to him and bringing forth an appreciation of the values that are inherent to his actual Chinese lifestyle and cultural norms."
Abstract Orwell's point in writing the article "The Art of Donald McGill", was to demonstrate the validity and even necessity of vulgarity in our social lives. Orwell was a self-consciously political writer. Orwell asserted, in his article "The Art of Donald McGill", that humor, particularly vulgar humor, promotes a society and its health. Orwell put forth the idea that humor, particularly vulgar jokes, act as a social steam-valve. Racism was the absolute norm of the day in Orwell's time. Orwell's point was to help bring a sort of validity to the argument of vulgarity. The problem, however, is that vulgar humor puts others down and is inherently damaging to others.
Abstract This paper analyzes a selection of poems by Donald Justice. Most of the poems that the writer analyzes are in the villanelle format and the writer suggests that it is the required repetition of this format that brings out the emotion of the poem. The writer also notes that Justice's poems pay attention to the detail of craft and work with restrained expertise. The writer further discusses a few poems in detail, and points out that even though we find Donald Justice's poems objective and admirable, they are lacking in self as if he is standing on the outside of them.
From the Paper "Upon reading Donald Justice's book New and Selected Poems, I am reminded of Eudora Welty's quote, "Virtuosity, unless it moves the heart, goes at the head of the whole parade to dust." Justice's poems work with restrained expertise. The poems pay attention to the detail of craft, but the detachment of feeling in the verse leaves out the passion of poetry."
Tags: villanelle, format, verse, rhyme, Shakespeare
Abstract The paper discusses the general role of Kurt Vonnegut in modern literature and includes a discussion of his interviews with newspapers through which he expresses his own view on the influence of his literature. Several of Vonnegut's books such as "Player Piano" and "Galapagos" are examined.
From the Paper "It has been twenty years since all sorts of academic critics began paying attention to Kurt Vonnegut's work. Many of his critics and fans have attempted to explain the very original style of Vonnegut's books. Most of them usually do come up with some sort of a purpose for his books, but the style, usually, can?t be explained. In order to "catagolize" Vonnegut into literary criterion, has been called, among other less presentable things, a fabulist, a fantasist, a black humorist, a mythic writer, a satirist, and a science fiction writer. Many different critics have attempted to explain his true reasons for his creations, but almost all of them are doomed to failure from the moment they begin. This is true, not because of their lack of intelligence or creativity, after-all most of them carry numerous degrees in prestigious schools, but because they aren?t Kurt Vonnegut."
Tags: Mustazza, science, fiction, satirist, Breakfast, of, Champions
Abstract This essay critically examines Kurt Lewin's three step change process: "Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze". Strengths and weaknesses of the model are analysed and finally, suggestions for improving the model are made. The paper shows the different types of change experienced by an organisation and how management must deal with them in order to grow.
From the Paper "UNFREEZING In this first stage, a company must be awakened to a new reality and must disengage from the past, recognising that the old way of doing things is no longer acceptable (Kanter, R. et al. 1992). Disengaging from the past is critical to the "unfreezing" process because it is difficult for an organisation to embrace change until it has isolated the structures and routines that no longer work and has vowed to move beyond them (Kanter, R. et al. 1992). Unfreezing is initiated by recognising the need for change by identifying driving and restraining forces."
Abstract This paper provides an overview of Kurt Vonnegut and his book, "Slaughterhouse Five", or "The Children's Crusade", from the perspective of its inadvertent contribution to increasing the level of overall geopolitical awareness in America, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "According to one of his many biographers, Kurt Vonnegut studied at Cornell University before serving in the U.S. Air Force in World War II (Reed 1997). Vonnegut was captured by the Germans, and was one of the survivors of the fire bombing of Dresden, Germany, that took place in February 1945. Vonnegut's book, Slaughterhouse Five, or The Children's Crusade (1969) is his attempt to recreate his Dresden experiences in a fictional form; the book uses that bombing raid as a symbol of the cruelty and destructiveness of war down through the centuries using a mixture of dark fantasy and ?numb, loopy humor ?(Giles & Dickstein 2003:11). An interesting benefit that has been realized from this evocative story about an otherwise-horrifying event (particularly one in which the United States did not play an all-that-honorable-role) has been its impact on raising the level of geopolitical awareness among Americans who have read the book. In this regard, Vonnegut has provided a poignant account of an event in history that contributes to this understanding. "
Abstract This paper examines the film "Mother Night" directed by Keith Gordon and adapted by Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name. The writer of this paper details the film's tragic dimensions as well as the surreal yet inspired moments of dark humor. This paper discusses the plot and characters of the film, including that of actor Nick Nolte who plays American playwright and expatriate Howard Campbell. The writer also ponders the questions raised in the film regarding responsibility and the roles people often play for survival.
From the Paper "During Campbell's years in Nazi Germany, the colors are very vibrant. The bright, nearly golden cinematography evokes a nostalgic feel--the rose-tinted hues that accompany one's memories of his or her days of youth and glory. However, in the postwar years, the colors are dull and dreary. And the last days of Campbell's life in an Israeli prison are shot in stark black and white. This inventive use of cinematography reveals the tragically ironic fact that the happiest years of Campbell's life were when he broadcasted hate over the airwaves, and the Nazis who revered him exterminated millions of innocent people. In his days of glory, he was treated as a celebrity among many Germans and had the undying love of his beautiful wife Helga."
Tags: film, analysis, literature, american, world, war, two, holocaust
Abstract The paper compares the protagonists in Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," and Kurt Vonnegut's "Player Piano." The paper discusses the plot, protagonists and themes and views the novels as cautionary tales.
From the Paper "The notion of Utopia as an ideal society set apart from that which we live was coined by the sixteenth century scholar Michel de Montaigne in his novel "Utopia" that essentially described for Europeans the societies of the New World that was America at the time. Since then the world has seen an influx of philosophical utopian societies portrayed in literature. Many of these works, however, do not describe ideal societies at all. Rather, they portray dystopian mutations of political zeal gone awry."
Tags: utopia, dystopia, kurt vonnegut, player piano, ray bradbury, fahrenheit 451
Abstract This paper uses the historical novel "Slaughter-House-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut to illustrate the effects of the Dresden Bombing during World War II. Not only is the book historical fiction, evidently based on true events, but most of the events are based on specific happenings. Vonnegut illustrates the life of a soldier during the war. His writing shows the destruction that occurs during this time
for both sides. Vonnegut writes of the war both objectively and truthfully, telling of each nation's soldiers, the effects of war on them, the brutality of the war, and the bombing of Dresden. The paper concludes that Vonnegut's writing, along with eyewitness accounts presented, show the true devastation of the Dresden Bombing.
From the Paper "Slaughter-House-Five is a historical novel that tells of World War II, specifically the Dresden Bombing. Through a combination of both historical and science fiction, Kurt Vonnegut illustrates the life of a soldier during the war. Vonnegut writes about the war in an unbiased manner giving different views about its participants and attacks. His strong voice is not, however, diminished by his objectivity. Vonnegut writes of the war both objectively and truthfully, telling of each nation's soldiers, the effects of war on them, the brutality of the war, and the bombing of Dresden."
Abstract This paper discusses how Kurt Vonnegut's novels such as "Cat's Cradle" and "Slaughterhouse Five" have a reputation both as great literary classics and great works of underground fiction. It looks at how "Slaughterhouse Five" is his most famous novel and also regarded his most personal, as it was based on his experiences as a prisoner of war in Germany during the Allied firebombing of Dresden in 1945. It also discusses how Vonnegut is credited with helping to elevate the genre of science fiction, once considered a staple of pulp magazine racks, to that of high art and how "Cat's Cradle" tells the tale of scientists trying to create 'ice-nine,' a crystal that could turn all water solid and thus destroy all life on earth.
From the Paper "Vonnegut is credited with helping to elevate the genre of science fiction, once considered a staple of pulp magazine racks, to that of high art. Cat's Cradle tells the tale of scientists trying to create 'ice-nine,' a crystal that could turn all water solid and thus destroy all life on the earth. In 1963, Cat's Cradle slowly developed a readership as Cold War Americans were increasingly receptive to a book that showed the dangerous potential of science and technology to develop faster than ethics and morality ("Novelist Kurt Vonnegut dies at 84," CNN.com, 2007, p.1) The novel, takes its title from an Eskimo game in which children try to snare the sun with string (Smith, 2007, p.1). Although its first printing sold only 500 copies, it has become a staple of English classes all over America today (Smith, 2007, p.1)."
Abstract The paper suggests specific awards for the three main characters in Kurt Vonnegut's novel, "Slaughterhouse Five'. Specifically, the paper discusses why a scrapbook is a suitable award for Billy Pilgrim, why a pencil with an eraser is appropriate for the narrator and why a trip around the world would have benefited Valencia Pilgrim.
Outline:
Award 1: A Scrapbook for Billy Pilgrim
Award 2: A Pencil with an Eraser for the Narrator
Award 3: A Trip Around the World for Valencia Pilgrim
From the Paper "Billy Pilgrim is described as a character unstuck in time. His memory serves as the narrative structure of Slaughterhouse Five, a series of memories that occurs after Billy is in a plane accident. At the time of the accident, Billy is employed as an eye doctor in upstate New York. Billy has a wife, children, and comfortable life, but he is haunted by memories of his captivity during World War II, and digging out from his imprisonment in a work camp during the bombing of Dresden. Rather than finding comfort in material success and his physical survival, he is disenchanted with his current existence. He dreams as well that he is captured by aliens, who underline the principle that human beings have no free will, evidently reflecting Billy's sense of powerlessness over the actions that have shaped his life."
Abstract This paper reviews the musical structure and songs of Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera" and discusses how Weill specifically used gestic music in the work. The paper explains that gestus is the portrayal of the theatrical moment that expresses the social relationships and attitudes with which the play is concerned. The paper then concludes that, in "The Threepenny Opera", the overall combination of music and lyrics plus the individual songs result in the creation of a new type of musical theater, which makes Weill's composition a minor work of gestic genius.
From the Paper "This satirical gest is thrust upon the audience at the very moment the orchestra strikes its first note of the performance. The instrumentation shuns the traditionally operatic string ensemble in favor of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, timpani, banjo and harmonium. The prologue's description of an opera "so cheap even a beggar can afford it" is followed by a mockingly pompous Baroque-like overture, which is harmonically minor and rhythmically plodding. The listener can almost imagine Weill's mocking grin as he first wrote the scale-based, repetitive melody and the Haydn-like sforzandos of every single beat."
Tags: brecht contradiction instrumentation, mac the knife, moritat-motif
Abstract This paper compares Donald Queller's "The Fourth Crusade" to other contemporary books regarding the Fourth Crusade and contrasts between them.
From the Paper "In The Fourth Crusade, Donald E. Queller describes both the political and financial motives that led to the fourth crusade to Constantinople. Through heavy use of primary sources, the entire journey is told in a story-like fashion. Unfortunately, this story is not one without opinions. The Fourth Crusade is filled with Queller's personal opinions about both the historical event and contemporary historians. While these can sometimes be distracting, they neither take away from the significance of this study nor alter the historical facts. Queller's work, by all means, is one of the better historical studies of the events leading up to the sacking of Constantinople."
