Abstract In this article the writer shows that the themes of injustice and inequality in American life form a common bond that both Hawthorne and Melville would have agreed upon. By analyzing two short tales by these authors, one can find the problems of racism and socialinjustice that arise in their philosophies on the real America, not the popular nationalism espoused in the Bill of Rights.
From the Paper "In this literary study, the friendship of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville was based upon the premise of human equality and minutiae of human existence within the world's great expanse. Through Hawthorne's "A Minister's Black Veil" and Melville's "Benito Cereno", a comparison between the two stories and their philosophies on human inequality and injustice will be evaluated. In essence, both Melville and Hawthorne sought to use human equality and legal justice as literary devices for dissolving inequalities and injustice within the American society. In Melville's tale "Benito Cereno" two captains must vie for justice regarding a slave ship that has been found off the coast of Chile."
Abstract This paper shows how the powers of social movements are derived primarily from injustice in society. The paper looks at the civil rights, feminist and anti-war movements in the nineteen-sixties that demonstrated how once a social movement gains momentum it can produce wider public dissatisfaction with the status quo and compel elected officials to take action against injustice. The paper points out, however, that the power to affect social change in society tends to be fluid, for once a social movement achieves a certain degree of social change, it meets increasing resistance, which reduces its power.
From the Paper "The Civil Rights Movement of the nineteen-sixties began because of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott in 1955, which inspired African-Americans to increase their efforts to win equality. Parks (1999) notes that a few years later, when Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent the FBI into the South in 1962 to enforce laws, prevent violence, and protect civil rights activists, it sent a strong message that the time for racial justice had arrived and that racial segregation must be ended."
Abstract The paper reviews the themes, conflicts, symbols and characterization in Melville's novel "Billy Budd" that relates the different elements in the novel to ideas of the Enlightenment.
From the Paper "During the Age of the Enlightenment, Gay maintains that the men of the Enlightenment united on a vastly ambitious program, a program of secularism, humanity, cosmopolitanism and freedom. From a growing reliance on science and reason over faith and emotion to formation of political philosophies that asserted a balance between individual and State rights, many of the ideas associated with the Enlightenment can be found in a reading of Herman Melville's "Billy Budd.""
Tags: individual rights, state rights, law and order, Captain Vere, John Claggart, chaos, anarchy, Social Contract, Rousseau, reason
An examination of Herman Melville's use of the color white to convey negative thoughts and emotions: antithetical to common cultural connotations which associate white with such positive concepts as purity and holiness.
Abstract This paper analyzes Melville's innovative manipulation of the color white. The primary concerns include the unsettling effect of a monster "wearing white" and what may have been Melville's attack on racism. Careful attention to syntax, diction and literary style serve as the intellectual support for these ideas.
From the Paper "From a very young age, popular media teaches us that we can spot the good guys from a mile away, based solely on their entirely white costumes. This small piece of conventional wisdom presents a serious problem for Moby Dick's readers, as Herman Melville shrouds his title character, the vicious, homicidal whale in the color traditionally reserved for heroes. Without a close reading of the text, the simple fact that the whale is associated with white might be enough to convince the reader that he is in fact the hero of the story. However, this is not the case, as close reading of the text suggests only Moby Dick's fundamental "naturalness" as well as the whale's ability to serve as a metaphor for the color, and, in turn all of those things for which the color itself serves as a metaphor. The effects of Melville's decision to employ the whale in such a way are numerous, spanning from the simple, unnerving juxtaposition of the color's purity with the whale's monstrosity, to a complex, subtle condemnation of racism."
Abstract This paper analyzes the various criticisms of the short story, "Bartleby the Scrivener" by Hermann Melville, about a laborer's life as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The author examines criticisms by: Nichola Ayo, Hans Bergmann, Michael Bethold whom all approach this short story from different perspectives.
From the Paper "Nichola Ayo in his discussion of "Bartleby the Scrivener" spends only a brief section of the paper analyzing the character of Bartleby himself (exploring a number of theories that have held Bartleby to be a stand-in or metaphor for Melville himself as a man of letters trying to find a place for himself in a world that has very little place indeed for intellectuals). Most of Ayp's discussion is geared to an analysis of the lawyer, and whether or not he has acted properly. "
Abstract This paper iscusses the theme of Herman Melville's story, "Bartleby the Scrivener." The author points out that, as a story of self-destruction, the tale is about a man Bartleby who succumbs to the strain of attempting to conform to the rules of a society, which he no longer believes in. The paper relates that the story is written from the point of view of the narrator and his attempt to save Bartleby.
From the Paper "Herman Melville's creation Bartleby, who appears in his story "Bartleby, the Scrivener", is a man who lives in a highly straightened world. His story is that of a man who at first appears as if he should be able to meet the expectations of his society. Bartleby ..."
Abstract This paper examines the problems that censorship places on America and takes a strong stance against the practice. It examines socialinjustices and problems that exist in American society and looks at the ethical issues that arise when considering censorship.
From the Paper "America was founded on freedom, it is a country that originated to protect the fundamental human rights of all people"or at least that's what the constitution and Declaration of Independence say. Contradictions to this so-called freedom have appeared throughout history. We enslaved an entire race, marched Native Americans down the Trail of Tears and sent Japanese Americans into internment camps for no good reason. Today, there is another issue that some say is putting our freedom in jeopardy. Book and periodicals censorship has occurred in our country for years, and during all of those years protests and calls for the protection of our freedom of speech have rung have been heard from some authors, students, teachers, the American Library Association, booksellers, and literature fans everywhere who believe that "the freedom to read is essential to our democracy" (Hull, 118). On the other hand some parents, family oriented groups such as Focus on the Family, the American Family Association, and Family Friendly Libraries, and Christian groups and ministers are asking the government to regulate the books that make their home on our public and school library shelves in order to protect children from being exposed to difficult issues like sexuality and racism before they are mature enough to handle it.?
Abstract This essay will examine the ecological degradation and socialinjustice created by the oil corporations and the people who subsequently invaded the Huaorani's land and show that this is ultimately a representation of the negative impact of globalization and its effect on many places in the world.
Abstract This paper explores the socially marginal individuals in Japanese society, through the research by Tom Gill. It examines how Japanese day workers challenge our western assumption of the homogeneous Japanese culture and social structures. The paper illustrates Gill's intensive study of ethnography of the day laborers, including factors such as their martial status, and age.
From the Paper "What occurs when individuals are excluded and socially ostracized from an essentially community-focused society? This is the central research question that drives the perspective of the book authored by Tom Gill, entitled Men of Uncertainty; The Social Organization of Day Laborers in Contemporary Japan. The book uses the specific example of day laborers in contemporary Japanese society to challenge some of the assumptions of homogeneity many Westerners bring to larger Japanese culture and social structures, as well as to simply highlight aspects of the difficulties individuals experience when they live at the margins of any particular culture. Gill's relatively narrow social focus is thus developed, through historical study and fieldwork, to challenge a larger set of expectations often held by Westerners. The existence of day laborers, for example, challenges the notion that Japanese society is homogeneous yet inclusive. Both ordinary Japanese individuals who deny the existence of day laborers in their midst as well as Westerners observing Japan from afar often hold such expectations."
Tags:social, homogeneity, western, social, structures, marginal, tokyo, homeless
Abstract This paper discusses social movements with regards to Andrews, Whittier, and the documentaries providing convincing evidence that the powers of social movements are derived primarily from injustice in society. The paper further discusses how social, economic, or political conditions can no longer be tolerated by an oppressed group of people, social movements often arise, for such movements enable the participants to affect social change. These movements rarely achieve all of their goals because they always generate resistance, but they have often succeeded in attaining many of their goals.
Abstract This paper addresses a number of issues concerning the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind." The paper looks at the social and cultural issues depicted in the film, the socialinjustice that allowed slavery to exist and the concept of ignorance. The paper also provides analyses of the main characters and the sociological themes in the movie.
From the Paper "One of the central social and cultural issues that this film presents is the role of slavery in the plantation system of the South. The film presents a romanticized view of slavery in the antebellum South. Consider the fact that almost all of the slaves presented in the movie are household servants including Mammy. Mammy is Scarlett's personal maid confidant and governess. Despite her status as a slave, Mammy remains unafraid to firmly chastise Scarlett for her inappropriate and unseemly behavior. Mammy is..."
Abstract In this article, the writer compares and contrasts the works 'Iliad' by Homer and 'Works and Days' by Hesiod. This consideration of the works shows that they are different. The writer notes that the differences are based on the 'Iliad' being written based on the ideologies of the higher classes of Athens, while 'Works and Days' was written based on the reality for the lower classes. The writer concludes that the works share several common characteristics, with these linked to the fact that the books were written around the same time and as part of the same culture. However, there are also significant differences in the works. The writer maintains that this is due to the fact that the two books represent the two very different social classes at the time.
From the Paper "Before considering the difference in the works, it is useful to first consider what qualities they share. The main similarities in the works are the obvious ones. This is that both are written by Greeks and so both reflect Ancient Greece culture. The second is that both were written around the same time, close to 700 BC. These two factors lead to the works sharing several aspects, even though they are about vastly different subjects. These similarities are to be expected and are based on the shared culture reflected in both works. One of the first features noted in the works is that they are both written in the style of epic poetry. Epic poetry was a style of literature that developed in Ancient Greece. The development of epic poetry was also closely linked to the Greek oral tradition. In fact, the Iliad is considered to have been written by Homer centuries after the Trojan War that is the subject of the work. In addition, Homer is thought to have created the work based on oral myths that had been passed down from generation to generation after the end of the Trojan War."
Abstract This film study analyzes the issues of economic and social stratification in conflict theory in relation to the film "A Day Without a Mexican". Through an understanding of the characters and society presented in this fictional comedy, the paper shows how helpless white society becomes when the Mexicans have vanished. This creates an economic and social vacuum due to the wage slavery and racial conflicts that white Americans impose on legal or illegal Mexican immigrants.
From the Paper "This aim of this film study will be to examine the sociological basis of conflict theory in relation to the film: A Day Without a Mexican, directed by Sergio Arau. The basis of social conflict lies within the racial stereotypes that white hegemonic society imparts on the Mexican population in America. By this form of racial subjection, the Mexicans in this film must struggle through the conflict of subjugating the Mexican race through American social and economic stratification. The film A Day Without a Mexican (2004) reflects the story of whites that are left without their Mexican servants and illegal immigrant workers to do their manual labor. The story revolves round both political and social lines in relation to how these people 'survive' in this comedy on Mexican social and economic status."
Abstract This paper examines how social norms dictate our behavior on a day to day basisand how although these norms are not written rules of behavior, conducting oneself in opposition to these norms can result in minor consequences, such as being pointedly ignored, to major consequences, such as being incarcerated. In particular, it looks at the writer's experiences when breaking a low-level social norm during a one-hour period.
Abstract The paper explains that political anthropology concerns itself with the distribution of power in a variety of social contexts. The paper discusses how power from this perspective is not viewed only in terms of Big Men or authority figures, but also how power is manifested in domestic politics or its distribution and use within families' kin networks and communities. In this essay, the writer compares and contrasts the manifestation of power within the Aliyah Center in Barbara Myerhoff's "Number Our Days" and the distribution and use of power in my sorority.
