Abstract This paper discusses Katherine Mansfield's "Miss Brill", a story of an elderly woman who spends her Sunday afternoon visiting a seaside park. The paper looks at how, by using structuralist technique for criticism, Mansfield questions the discrepancy between the character's inner nature and outward appearance through several key binary oppositions: loneliness/companionship, isolation/inclusion, youth/old age, and reality/illusion. Of these binaries--loneliness/companionship and reality/illusion--form the crux of the story, and being the all-encompassing binaries and overarching themes. The paper also examines how, by using the third-person limited omniscient point of view, Mansfield successfully shows that old Miss Brill tries to avoid loneliness by making up illusions that will free herself from reality, but eventually ends up having to face the reality again.
From the Paper "Initially, "Miss Brill" begins with a great day with the blue sky "powdered with gold and great spots of light like white wine splashed over the Jardins Publique" (Mansfield 464). Miss Brill picks out her fur, so she can wear it to the park. After she arrives at the park, the band is playing. She sits down at her "special" seat next to an old man and woman. Miss Brill always looks forward to hear other people's conversation. An Englishman and his wife also sit next to her on the other side. Miss Brill wants to "shake" her because she doesn't seem to appreciate anything her husband does for her. Miss Brill turns her attention to some other people, who sit "still as statues" (Mansfield 465). She loves to be an observer--sitting by herself and watching other people's behavior. "
Abstract This paper explores one of the main themes of "The Glass Menagerie," namely reality vs. illusion. The paper deals with uses of fantasy and examines how the main characters deal with the disappointments of their lives.
From the Paper In Tennessee Williams' classic American play; "The Glass Menagerie," the main characters all struggle to deal with the disappointing realities of their lives. Indeed, Laura, Tom and Amanda Wingfield all turn to comfortable illusions in order to combat the loneliness and desperations of their daily lives. Thus this conflict between reality and illusion becomes the central theme of Williams' play as he uses his characters to depict the way in which one can use fantasy to escape an unpleasant reality."
Tags: glass, menagerie, williams, theme, reality, illusion, laura, tom, amanda, fantasy
A discussion regarding high self-esteem and how it promotes positive illusion in intimate relationships, which, in turn, motivates an approach that will enhance the relationship.
Abstract This research proposal examines the relationship between self-esteem and the quality of romance in terms of the couples' perceived regard and their own satisfaction of the relationship. The paper aims to describe the importance of positive illusion as a mediator of the perception of the intimates. The paper discusses the benefits and drawbacks of such positivity and how it relates to self-esteem. The paper further discusses the impact it has on the relationship quality and whether illusion or reality is more important?
Outline:
Introduction
Method
Results
Discussion
From the Paper "People with high self-esteem are somehow more motivated to repair their mood and are more likely to take the initiative to action in some way that would make them happier. (Heimpel et al. 2002) High self-esteem beings are more satisfied with their intimate relationships due to protection of self-worth and positive illusions. However, as much as these individuals idealize their relationship with their partner, there bound to be times when the conflict is too perceptible that challenges their belief in a perfect relationship; this should be when high and low self-esteem people differ with each other. If high self-esteem people do indeed have higher motivation to make themselves feel better; the hypothesis is that when positive illusions cannot play a role in repairing the negative feeling towards the relationship because the conflict is too overt, there is a high likelihood for high self-worth individuals to adopt the approach commitment (rather than the avoidance commitment) which is proven to be positively associated with relationship satisfaction. In other words, the reason for the tendency for high self-esteem people be more satisfied with their relationships is that their style of commitment which can enhance the intimate relationship. "
Abstract This paper focuses on Balzac's depiction of urban vs. rural characters in "Lost Illusions". The writer cites examples from the text to support the argument that Balzac believes that Paris is a corrupting influence on the way of life in the rural French provinces. The paper also examines the novel's main characters in order to support this argument.
From the Paper "The problem begins with the provincial characters? fascination with Paris. There is within the provinces a certain inferiority complex that leads its citizens to believe that everything in Paris is somehow better than anything in the provinces. In every realm of life provincials try to emulate their Parisian cousins. Thus, it is in an effort to duplicate Parisian society's elitism with regard to persons from rural areas that Angouleme's "society" looks down on citizens from the lower-class town of L?Houmeau. When Lucien says that he has been invited to Madame de Bargeton's salon, David responds in surprise, ?But there's a wider gulf of prejudice between you and her than if she were in Pekin and you in Greenland!? Because they fully believe in the superiority of Paris to their own home, the provincials mimic the urban culture, oftentimes resulting in the degradation of their ethics."
Tags: characterization, illusions, city, corruption, province
Abstract This paper explores the role of actors and popular personalities on shaping society, especially when seen on reality TV shows. The author explains the appeal of reality TV and further describes the methodology used in this study. Additionally, the psychological factors of being a viewer of reality TV are discussed. Some of the pitfalls of this research project from a sociological standpoint are presented and analyzed. The paper contains a long discussion on qualitative research and how this approach is applied to this study of reality TV. The paper also contains a chart that categorizes reality TV characters.
Outline:
Methodology
Rationale
Reality TV as a Social Observation Experiment
Conducting Credible Sociological Research
The Nature of Qualitative Research
Reality TV Character Categorization
Transforming Observational Data into Numerical Form
Works Cited
From the Paper " Reality TV is one of the most popular genres in the mass media today. The viewership of these programs increases at an astonishing rate. Reality TV allows the viewer to combine both reality and fantasy in a unique blend. We know that the characters have some effects on the adults that watch. However, until now this subject has received little attention. Some of the characters on reality TV would not be considered role models a major portion of the society. The proposed research will examine the presence of negative role models in British Reality Television."
Abstract This paper focuses on Starhawk's philosophy that language shapes consciousness and consciousness shapes reality. Within the paper it is shown that Starhawk's belief is that language can have a deciding factor on a person's perception of themselves, and through this perception they develop concepts of reality in their consciousness. Therefore, this perception then shapes their reality.
From the Paper "Reality, according to Starhawks, is a state in which we must find definition. It is how we define reality within our consciousness that ultimately determines the type of power that will control our lives. As individuals, what we perceive to be real will be. What we believe to be true will happen. The key to discovering a harmony in life is to come to the realization that people do have a final say in how their lives will be lived, and through the consciousness every individual can make that choice. To understand how this is possible the individual must first comprehend that there are powers in the world. Starhawks contends that there is the "power-over" which is any power that comes from outside of the individual that is controlling."
Abstract This paper examines the reality show phenomenon and considers whether they benefit or harm society, particularly its young people. It discusses the attraction of reality shows and harmful ideas promoted by such shows.
From the Paper "Reality shows like Survivor appeal to people who are concerned about fitting in with the crowd they hold little interest for those who are not influenced by peer pressure. For those who do feel compelled to watch reality shows however the ..."
Abstract This paper uses reality television as an example of race, class, gender and sexual orientation in popular culture. The author argues that reality television shows are filled with stereotypes. The paper relates that these stereotypes are used to maintain the status quo.
From the Paper "Reality television, which is a hybrid of a game show and a documentary, is a relatively recent development. Basically contestants have to do some type of unusual activity and this activity is filmed for a television audience. The nature of the activity and the prizes vary from show to show with some shows involving stunts and large cash prizes, other shows involve changing life styles and the prize is a new and supposedly better lifestyle. Although the contests on reality television programs are not actors they are still picked using a very deliberate selection process."
Abstract This eight page undergraduate paper examines reality TV and its impact on viewers, producers, and the television industry itself. Through summarizing the main content of the reading, the writer shows that a structured analysis can be formulated which confirms that the interest of the television audience drives the process. The writer points out that TV producers react to what the public wants to see, and it is obvious from the ratings success of reality shows that they are very popular.
From the Paper "Conducting an independent study of television is useful and instructive, for it provides an opportunity to analyze the challenges, concepts, and arguments involved concerning reality TV and its impact on viewers, producers, and the television industry itself. Through summarizing the main content of the reading, a structured analysis can be formulated which confirms that the interest of the television audience drives the process. TV producers react to what the public wants to see, and it is obvious from the ratings success of reality shows that they are very popular. In "Addicted to the Tube" author Mark Pizzato's main argument is that people are vulnerable to becoming addicted to television because it stirs the human desire for fantasy and escapism."
This paper looks at the work of Janet Cardiff, examining the ways in which she uses her voice and other sounds to create a false but convincing "virtual" reality.
2,025 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 4 sources, 2005, $ 80.95
Abstract This paper examines two of the audio installation works of Canadian artist Janet Cardiff "The Large Slow River" and "Missing Voice" in the context of creating virtual realities. The paper also looks at aspects of the history of recorded sound and voice. In addition, the writer discusses virtual reality as a personal storytelling device. The first page presented in this article is a research proposal.
From the Paper "The creation of virtual reality is an attempt to re-create the world of actual human experiences through digital means, always attempting to make it more and more realistic. Janet Cardiff's work attempts this also, but without using digital visual representations of reality. Instead she uses sounds and words to elicit the memory and pre-existing knowledge of the audience/participant. This process creates an even more realistic "virtual reality," since memory often involves synesthesia, using all five of your own senses and not just the digitally created artificial ones of computer "virtual reality"."
Abstract The representation of reality in Western civilization has shifted at various points over millennia in response to fundamental changes in society and shifts in the paradigm through which people viewed the world around them. In this context, this essay will argue that Boccaccio's "The Decameron" can be seen both participating in the secular humanist movement of the late medieval period, as well as deviating from it with his characteristic preoccupation with the world "as is" as opposed to humanist focus on the "ideal".
Shows how Michalopoulos and Tsaliki, in their text "Globalization: Reality and Illusion", argue that the concept of globalization is more illusion than reality.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 3 sources, 2002, $ 89.95
Abstract In "Globalization: Reality and Illusion" Michalopoulos and Tsaliki contest the commonly held notion that recent economic growth has been a direct consequence of globalization. They suggest that globalization is more illusion than reality despite being widely held as the source of recent economic growth.
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that in James Joyce's short story "Araby", the narrator's view of the world seems to be that it is a relatively mundane, routine and unexciting place except when interrupted by his adolescent sensual thoughts and therefore rises a fresh, new and exciting reason to hope, dream and fantasize beyond his usual and predictable home, school and church routine. The writer notes that Joyce develops within this story counter-themes of illusion and reality: the illusion on the boy's part of romantic love for "Mangan's sister" juxtaposed against the more mundane realities of his true everyday existence, including the reality that the boy's own actions and mobility are determined by others.
From the Paper "Soon the boy cannot extract his sensual images of Mangan's sister from his mind, even long enough to say his prayers. Thoughts of Mangan's sister interfere impede his concentration at school. Neither God nor his studies is in his own mind any match for Mangan's sister. Soon, and without understanding why, the picture inside his head of Mangan's sister, distorted or real, takes on iconic significance, substituting for reality in a way far more, in fact deliciously, exciting. However, by the end of the story, the young boy's reality, which has to do with acquiescing to priorities of those older than himself than it does fulfilling his own desires, pulls him back, and much-cherished hope of buying and presenting Mangan's sister with a special gift from Araby is destroyed by the simple fact that his uncle's tardiness has caused him to arrive to late to Araby to buy her a gift.
"When the boy becomes fascinated with Mangan's sister, his mind wanders far from his usual reality, which consists of school, church, home, and the authority of others - religious, parental, and otherwise."
A comparison of the treatment of reality and illusion in the novels, "Un Amour De Swann" (Swann's Love), by Marcel Proust, and Andre Gide's "Les Faux-Monnayeurs" (The Counterfeitors).
Abstract This paper is a discussion of how, in both "Un Amour de Swann" and "Les Faux-Monnayeurs," fictional realities are exposed for their illusory nature, and the inner life of characters' fantasy and imagination is shown to be more real than the outer world they inhabit. In both cases, outer reality is shown to be a limited, disappointing, and inherently false area, and the artifice in a fictional reality is highlighted in order to direct our attention to the artifice in our own lived reality. It explains that, while Proust directs readers towards the 'time of our inner lives' as the space of true meaning and experience, Gide believes that action can be taken to expose the falsity inherent in the outer world and emancipate ourselves from the illusions we are enslaved to.
From the Paper "Proust's Un Amour de Swann and Gide's Les Faux-Monnayeurs are both concerned with the borderline between reality and illusion, and between the inner world of the self and the outer world of physical reality. Both novels contain characters who live in a reality they can neither experience fully, interpret objectively, or escape from, and both novels present a fictional reality exposed for its falsity in order to lead the reader to question the 'sincerity' of his own self and the nature of his own reality."
Abstract An examination of the themes of illusion and the American Dream in "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller. The play repeatedly shows the main character Willy Loman deluding himself into believing he is successfully pursuing his view of the American Dream ? financial success through business. Miller does this in two ways in particular. First, he constantly has the characters rewriting events so that when they are retold they reflect how they wish their lives really were instead of the reality of what happened. Second, as Willy Loman loses his grip on reality, he relives events from his past. By the end of the play, so many of Willy Loman's illusions about himself have been shattered, but his illusions about his son Biff are stronger, and he imagines that his suicide will guarantee his son's business success.
From the Paper "Willy has also constructed illusions around his sons, especially Biff, who truly was well liked in high school. Willy puts more emphasis on Biff's athletic talents and personal charm than is realistic, and encourages Biff to do the same. Chasing athletic fame for his son, Willy isn?t concerned when Biff steals a football from the team he plays for, and encourages him to steal sand to aid in a home renovation project. Biff's friend Bernard reminds Biff that he needs to study for exams or risk not graduating, and both Biff and his father make fun of him for this. He encourages his sons to do dishonest thing, suggesting that Willy's views about how to get ahead include setting personal values aside."
Tags: Willy, Loman, illusion, delusion, success, business
