| Papers [361-375] of 2028 :: [Page 25 of 136] | | Go to page : <— 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 —> | |
|
|
Modern Italy, 2005.
This paper uses Aesop's fable about the town mouse and the city mouse to demonstrate demographic changes in modern Italy.
880 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that, although modern Italy is changing, today it is still a country not only separated by customs and even regional dialects between South (i.e. South of Rome) and North, (i.e. Piedmont, Tuscany, etc.) but also the life styles in the many small and even remote villages and the large metropolitan areas are very different. The author points out that the country mice from Italy's small towns and villages have become more competitive and yet they still are far from becoming the so-called "sophisticates" of the big cities. The paper relates that the country mouse in today's Italy want to go to towns because, in the last two decades, Italy's economy has shifted sharply to industrial and services, which are located in the towns where more jobs are found.
From the Paper
" Of course, what the Town mouse didn't mention about the advantages of the city was, in case that city was Milan, the mice could be outfitted in the most stylish fashions by some of the world's most respected designers. Milan has overtaken Paris for much of both the high-priced end, Versacci, Armani, Gucci, but in Northern Italy is the world's most successful low- and mid-priced firm, Bennetton. Perhaps both mice could become a sort of "gray" example of the Colors of Bennetton, an advertising campaign that, if not everyone agrees with it, certainly has people talking. And, the country mouse can brag that Bennetton started, and is still located in a small town not too far from Venice."
| |
|
An Ethnographic Film: "Trobriand Cricket", 2005.
This paper uses movement analysis to evaluate the ethnographic film "Trobriand Cricket" (1973) by anthropologist Jerry W. Leach and filmmaker Gary Kildea.
2,920 words (approx. 11.7 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 86.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that, in the film "Trobriand Cricket: An Ingenious Response to Colonialism", made in 1973 by anthropologist Jerry W. Leach and filmmaker Gary Kildea, the film narrative is devoted primarily to the historical context of the cricket game in the Trobriands, providing an illustration of some of the processes of cultural diffusion. The author points out that movement analysis, which focuses on some of the visible aspects of ethnographic films that are often left unrecognized in the film narrative, results in a more profound ethnological appreciation of its contents and is especially valuable for films that focus intentionally on cultural performance. The paper concludes that (1) "Trobriand Cricket" has severe constraints concerning the anthropological "statement" made by the film and (2) movement analysis may yield valuable insight in the initial stages of understanding performance.
From the Paper
"The cultural interpretation of any performance--no matter how transparently the performance is represented to the observer (as it is so effectively in ethnographic film)-relies on the kind of close observation that organizes several details of performance into a system. It is not simply growing and shrinking that are at issue in the Trobriand design, not simply linear formations that are at stake in the British style. The relationship of those features to other features, the relationship of growing and shrinking to force and speed and clusters of bodies, the relationship of lines to individual bodies and to a stabilizing energy field bring out distinctive patterns. The value of movement analysis lies in its ability to construct an articulate representation of particular and even peculiar performances in terms of the very general features that all movement processes share so that various patterns of association can be traced throughout the action of a given culture and between performances of various cultures. A system like LMA can abstract principles of conduct and can represent them accurately in their full complexity and peculiarity."
| |
|
National Identities, 2006.
A comparison between the national identities of Australia and the United States.
2,100 words (approx. 8.4 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 65.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper analyzes and then compares and contrasts the Australian and American national identities. The author examines the factors that have shaped those identities, including similar histories as British colonies, democratic systems of government, natural resources and culture. The author concludes that Australia and the United States have forged their national identities based upon similar idealized beliefs tied to the land. Australia, however, appears to be a "little brother" to the United States; always just a few steps behind, yet always following in the footsteps.
From the Paper
"The national identity or image a country presents has an impact on how the citizens of the country perceive themselves and how the rest of the world views them. Several different cultural factors influence and shape this image, and the identity can change with the passage of time. Language, religion, music, and ethnic interactions help to shape the character and perception of a country and its culture. Heritage, beliefs, and traditions all contribute to how a country's people look at themselves and the country they call home. Australia and the United States have journeyed through time along a very similar course. In both of these countries, the perception of land, frontier, and wide-open spaces have combined with the cultural influences to shape this national identity."
| |
|
Pueblo Society in New Mexico, 2006.
A review of the sociology text "When Jesus Came, the Corn Mothers Went Away: Marriage, Sexuality, and Power in New Mexico, 1500 - 1846" by Ramon Gutierrez.
3,327 words (approx. 13.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 95.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper reviews the text with emphasis on the gender roles in Pueblo Indian society. The writer explains and describes the tension caused by the other major themes of the book such as the belief in one God by the Franciscan missionaries versus the natives' animistic views and the sexual freedom of the Puebloans compared to the sexual self-denial of the monks. The paper shows how Gutierrez brings the reader to the middle of the nineteenth century in New Mexico. In conclusion, the writer feels that Gutierrez resists the temptation to try to make up for the inequities of past accounts written by others, and instead presents a balanced, objective analysis of a complex and intriguing set of cultural phenomena.
From the Paper
"With regard to cultural significance, sexual intercourse was considered a powerful force for women in the Pueblo society as well. With none of the inhibitions or restrictions that members of supposedly more advanced cultures struggle with, Puebloans enjoyed a wide range of sexual activity. The women had total power of partner discernment which, when used well, enabled them to control a great deal of the social and political dynamics for the family. Reciprocal gift-giving was a major organizational and social force within the Pueblo society. A woman was obligated to have intercourse with her husband in exchange for the gifts given at the marriage and because he provided for her mother. But she was free to offer her hospitality by having sex with others as well. By so doing, she essentially accumulated guarantees of assistance, service, and possibly even goods from these sexual partners. Though a difficult conceptualization for this reader, it almost seems as though she was ensuring her family's future resources by giving the gift of her body to someone other than her spouse.
"With this complex cultural backdrop in place, enter the Franciscan missionaries--how shocked they must have been! Prior mission efforts may have prepared them for much of what they saw, but individual records still reported repulsion, especially at the apparent nexus between sexuality and the sacred among the Puebloans. The Franciscans order had especially severe ideals regarding self-discipline and sexual self-denial. Surely any pleasure derived from witnessing the "wicked" scenes among the Puebloans occasioned harsh flagellation among the friars."
| |
|
Religion: China vs. Germany, 2006.
This paper details the religious similarities and differences between China and Germany.
1,925 words (approx. 7.7 pages), 93 sources, APA, $ 61.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The writer of this paper uses detailed historical anthropology of religion in comparing the religions of both China and Germany. This well researched paper lists the extreme contrasts of culture, values and universal laws for both countries.
From the Paper
"The first Chinese philosopher to both evaluate and combine these beliefs into a workable whole was Lao Tsu. He philosophized that the universe is not black and white but a dance between the two. His belief system is called Taoism and is actually part of the underlying cultural psyche of most Chinese people. Taoism was a belief that supported the worldview of the rural farmer rather than the bureaucrat."
| |
|
"Shaft", 2006.
Analyzes the cultural popularity of this 1971 movie directed by Gordon Parks.
1,230 words (approx. 4.9 pages), 4 sources, APA, $ 41.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
In 1971, a new type of movie hero appeared on the screen. "Shaft" was the first Hollywood production that capitalized on a growing black audience who had demonstrated their box office clout with a strong response to Van Peebles's "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song". The paper questions whether the main character, John Shaft, was just another iteration of the 'big, bad black buck' or whether he constituted a new black persona.
From the Paper
"To understand the cultural context of a Black superhero, it's important to appreciate the political climate of the time. Black Power and Black Nationalism were political movements expressing a new racial consciousness among blacks in the United States in the late 1960s. Black Power represented both a logical outcome of the decade's civil rights movement and an impatient reaction to persisting racism that continued to resist the efforts of black activists during the early 1960s. Black Power was influential mainly in the late 1960s. Black Power meant different things to different people."
| |
|
"Guns, Germs and Steal", 2006.
A review of the Jerod Diamond book "Guns, Germs and Steal: The Fates of Human Societies."
1,630 words (approx. 6.5 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 53.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper reviews the book "Guns, Germs and Steal: The Fates of Human Societies," by Jerod Diamond, which studies the development of civilizations and the interplay between technology and illness. The author critiques Diamond's theory on "the receptivity of whole societies to innovation", arguing that it reflects his bias toward Western nations. Like Diamond, the author of this paper steers clear of making judgments on good (vs. bad) societies, stating instead that the definition of good depends on one's paradigm.
From the Paper
"Weaponry, as a technology, was developed through what the author calls "diffusion", a sort of "neighborly osmosis" where societies improve their technology by learning, imitating, or usurping what close-by civilizations and nations have already invented. He cites the opposite of this theory by pointing out that the Tasmanians, living without water craft, and isolated by the sea from Australia (only 1200 miles distant) had no contact with other societies for 10,000 years and acquired no new technology other than what they invented themselves. Australians and New Guineans received only a trickle of technology from Asia. The societies most able to develop and improve on technology were those located on the major continents."
| |
|
Marriage in America, 2006.
A look at the institution of marriage in America, possible reasons for its decline and how marriages are changing in traditional societies.
1,643 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper begins by describing a functionalist's perspective of the institution of marriage and how this view would ask what is wrong about American society that is causing a decline in this institution. The paper then takes a look at the film, "Mississippi Marsala" and what it has to say about culture and marriage in America and compares marriages in America to marriages in more traditional societies. The paper also describes some of the changes that are taking place in these traditional societies regarding marriage and compares it to the way marriage has evolved over time in the U.S.
From the Paper
"A functionalist perspective assumes that society is made up of interrelated parts, each of which contributes to the functioning of society as a whole. To the functionalist, society is composed of stable patterns (social structure) which have consequences for society as a whole. When working properly, each part contributes to the stability of the whole, fulfilling a function that contributes to a system's equilibrium. However, sometimes the parts can be dysfunctional for society. One way this can occur is when a change in one part of society disrupts the functioning of another part. A functionalist theorist examines the consequences of a specific institution for society as a whole. Therefore, in considering intimacy and marriage in the United States, we must ask, "What is wrong with American families?" Furthermore, "What is wrong with American society?""
| |
|
American Identity, 2006.
An opinion paper about the need for one singular American identity.
1,854 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 59.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper argues that there is a vital need for one national identity in America, since without such there can be no true American culture. The paper examines the concept of multiculturalism and concludes that this concept cannot work for America because of the wide range of societies that exist in the country which need to be unified.
From the Paper
"Some people claim that multiculturalism itself should be the defining characteristic of a single American identity. "In fact," says one critic, "one may even postulate that the 'true' American citizen should be multicultural almost by definition. By 'true' here I mean the type of citizenship that conforms closely to the political ideals embedded in the American Constitution" (Alexander Makedon). This does not seem too unreasonable at first glance, although it is ironic that this pro-multicultural stance draws on a nationalism more commonly beloved of assimilationists. The author of the article is clearly a great supporter of the American "political ideals", which he claims are multicultural in nature. He argues that these ideals are in fact the essence of American identity. In effect, then, he is arguing that Americans should support multiculturalism because American ideology is the best, and those who do not support it are not true Americans!"
| |
|
Terra Nullius, 2005.
Examines the history of this law governing Australian ancestral land.
2,135 words (approx. 8.5 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 66.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
Terra Nullius ("Empty Land") was a law created in Australia in 1788, that denied recognition of land ownership prior to that date for anyone other than English and other white European settlers. This paper examines the rule from its implementation until 1992, when the Australian high Court handed down its infamous "Mabo" ruling which stated that the policy of Terra Nullius was not valid and that the Aborigines were the first true inhabitants of Australia.
From the Paper
"One example was that of John Koowarta, who obtained funds, partially through the Australian Federal government, to buy a cattle station in Central Cape York Peninsula. The owner of the station was willing to sell the property to him, but the Queensland government intervened to prohibit the sale. They refused to allow the transfer of pastoral lands, because their policy at the time was not to permit Aborigines to purchase land in isolation from the State government. Koowarta went to court, and won, with the court therefore pointing out that Queensland (and presumably other states) had valid racial discrimination laws."
| |
|
"Different Games, Different Rules", 2005.
An overview of this book by Haru Yamada which explores the relationship between the Japanese and the Americans.
868 words (approx. 3.5 pages), 0 sources, $ 30.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
In his book "Different Games, Different Rules: Why Americans and Japanese Misunderstand Each Other", Haru Yamada attempts to explain the cultural disconnection that commonly occurs between people from the two very different cultures of the United States and Japan. The paper shows that, for Yamada, the explanation lies in linguistic differences. The paper examines the key thesis of the book that the main difference between the two cultures is found in the implicit and explicit delivery of messages.
From the Paper
"The language of both cultures functions to display and reinforce the values that the individual is brought up with. When people from each of these cultures attempts to communicate, the differences in values is what leads to misunderstandings. Words, phrases, and expressions in one language may have the same literal meaning in the other language, but because the connotations are completely different, they do not actually mean the same thing."
| |
|
The Cultural Function of Proverbs and Jokes, 2006.
Explores how English proverbs, as well as jokes, disguise deep-seated cultural elements.
1,283 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 43.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
A paper looking at how proverbs and jokes in English, as well as other languages, can be a great source of cultural insights and historical knowledge not found in grammars or guidebooks.
From the Paper
"The proverb "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink" is exceedingly familiar to Americans, from schoolchildren to cosmopolitan sophisticates. The saying is so well known that writer Dorothy Parker, when challenged to create a witty saying using the word 'horticulture' ultimately quipped "You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her drink." This well-known anecdote proves the fact that the original proverb is deeply ingrained in the minds of American English speakers."
| |
|
Homosexuality in Antiquity, 2005.
This paper explains that homosexuality was accepted throughout antiquity, in Rome as much as classical Athens.
1,240 words (approx. 5.0 pages), 11 sources, MLA, $ 42.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that poetry, pottery and philosophy leave no doubt as to the acceptability of homosexuality in antiquity; however, it is difficult to estimate just how much it was valued. The author points out that the sexuality of the Roman male centered on three traditional protocols governing sexual practices: (1) A self-respecting Roman man must always give the appearance of playing the insertive, and not the receptive, role in penetrative acts; (2) apart from his wife, freeborn Romans were officially off-limits as sexual partners for a Roman man and (3) there was a noticeable proclivity toward smooth young bodies. The paper suggests that homosexual affairs took place between men of comparable age and some of them lasted many years; however, it is not clear if affairs continued after either party married: Other men were for emotional relationships but alliances and children depended on women.
From the Paper
"The Romans were living before either a sin or medical model of homosexuality and while aware of differing inclinations did not consider these important enough to establish a separate social category. Exclusive preference for one sex or the other was not an issue and most men we hear about liked both. In Rome of the early Empire, there were many men who threw off the conventions of traditional Roman manhood and instead assumed an "effeminate" appearance and manner, thereby, in the usual case, advertising their eagerness for sexual encounters with other males. These were the molles and the cinaedi. Their numbers cannot even be guessed, but, in a city of a million persons, they might easily have numbered in the tens of thousands. The Apostle Paul, with his usual provincial primness, adduces overt homosexual behavior as his chief example of the capital's decadence."
| |
|
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker's "Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook", 2006.
This paper reviews the book "Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook" by Dr. Douglas Ubelaker, which discusses physical anthropology and its use in forensics.
845 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 0 sources, $ 30.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that Dr. Douglas Ubelaker states in "Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook" that human bones often can tell the trained scientist more about the individual, even an individual's geographic origin, lifestyle or occupation, than the friends or relatives ever could. The author points out that Dr Ubelaker credits the 33,000 individual skeletons housed in the Smithsonian with helping him in every forensic case described in the book. The paper relates that identifying remains is an arduous task and is often made more difficult when someone attempts to cover up the crime or the identity of the victim through such methods as fire.
From the Paper
"One case early in the book is of a black woman who was discovered in rural Ohio. As is the case in this book, all that remained were bones. Race, approximate age and sex were first determined. Without available dental records or x-rays, a photograph of the possible victim was sent with the bones. At Smithsonian, Ubelaker compared the bones of the victim with bones in the museum. He was able to say with a great amount of certainty that the photograph was of that of the individual to whom the bones belonged."
| |
|
Ancient Egypt, 2005.
An overview of the architecture, social set-up and economics of ancient Egypt.
3,183 words (approx. 12.7 pages), 6 sources, MLA, $ 92.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines life in ancient Egypt by providing information on different aspects of this fascinating time in history. The paper examines the architecture of the time, including the pyramids and tombs and other public buildings. The paper looks at the social classes which existed in ancient Egypt, from the Pharoah down to the lowly farmers. The paper also discusses divorce, hygiene, entertainment, religion and the rights of women.
From the Paper
"Cleanliness was very important to the Egyptians, and most people bathed every day, using a cleansing cream consisting of lime, oil, and perfume. Additionally, people rubbed themselves with perfumed oil daily, made by mixing flowers and scented oil with fat. People of all ages, children included, painted their faces. Green malachite was mixed with oil to make "Khol", and was used to accent the eyes, it was also believed to have magical powers. Red ochre was mixed with water and applied to the lips and cheeks, and henna was used to dye fingernails."
|
|
|
