Abstract This paper critically reviews "PictureBrides" by TomokoMakabe, a Japanese woman living in Canada, who became fascinated by the fact that women would go overseas to marry men they did not know. The author of this paper feels that, while the book is interesting to read, a person aware of Japan's 19th and 20th century history, and the longer story of the Japanese in North America will find little that is so 'amazing' in the experience of the five women informing Makabe's work.
From the Paper "Also, the phenomenon to which Makabe gave her attention involved a range of factors to which she seems not to have given ample thought led by the extreme gaps in Japanese social classes in the 19th and 20th centuries. Young women choosing to marry abroad, as ever, were often people with few or no alternative prospects. Makabe seems not to have considered a number of factors of the kind. For instance, a somewhat irritating aspect of Picture Brides is the author's repeated reference to how courageous the picture brides were, in a manner showing that the author has failed to imagine the turn of the 20th century and the courage that all men and women without prospects in Japan, or anywhere else, needed in order to simply survive. Makabe's informants had come to Canada as picture brides in the 1920s, by which time many Japanese women had undertaken the same sorts of journeys, going to join a settled and working man of whom their families were apt to know little or nothing. In addition to traditional family methods of locating spouses, brokers were often involved, a woman taking some risk as ever in terms of how her husband across the world turned out to be but she went abroad with the approval of her family having settled a daughter and sometimes expecting remittance funds.
As an Oral History volume, Picture Brides would be better if the author had managed a shorter introduction on herself and tried for a briefer introduction to 100 years of Japanese in Canada. More weight should have been placed on events in Japan in the later 19th and early 20th centuries that made becoming a picture bride of appeal. For instance, Makabe notes that the women were from village backgrounds and notes how a newly industrializing Japan had few waged opportunities for women that most could not work beyond the home. She seems not to see either that as elsewhere in Asia, marriage was a necessity for poorer families, and that embarking across the world as a picture bride could solve various family problems. Becoming a picture bride was probably more strategic or simply straightforward than courageous or heroic. One gains the impression that the author was fairly sheltered or had not reflected on social reality of the time in either Japan or Canada when beginning research with the assistance of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario."
Abstract This paper explains that Cathy Song understands the predicaments Asian immigrants must encounter in American society because she grew up as an American of Chinese and Korean descent, which she expressed in "PictureBride", a poem collection about Asian immigrants' concerns with their decisions to migrate to the United States The author points out that, in the poem "Lost Sister", Song compares the contradictions in Chinese and American cultures faced by a Chinese immigrant woman because American laws allows freedom for everyone; whereas, the ancient Chinese tradition oppresses women's rights. The paper relates that Song depicts, in this poem, the immigrant woman choosing to adhere to American traditions, leaving her original cultures in order to express herself in spite of her Chinese identity. Many quotations.
From the Paper "Ending her poem, Song highlights the immigrant woman's choice to follow the American traditions while disobeying her own culture. Song begins the last stanza with "you find you need China/ your one fragile identification" (lines 53-54) to restate the woman's original identity as a Chinese person. The word "fragile", however, emphasizes the intensity of her connection to her Chinese identification. By saying "fragile," the woman admits that although she cannot deny her ethnicity that runs in her blood, she does not practice her Chinese identity further."
Abstract This paper takes a look at Stephen Crane's short story, "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky". According to the paper, Crane uses character, setting and the plot structure to develop the theme of the collision of east and west.
From the Paper "Further evidence is supplied by Wilson's actions when he shoots at the innocent dog and door of the bar. Yet, Wilson finds no relief from his western angst and is forced to seek the only man who will fight him, Jack Potter, at his home. As Potter and his wife rush "sheepishly and shamefacedly" to their home, they are unexpectedly confronted by Wilson and his gun. The climax occurs when the two story lines merge in front of Potter's home. Uncharacteristically, Potter does not have a gun and must confess this to Wilson. As Potter is making this statement, his mind travels back to the beauty of the train, "the glory of the marriage, the environment of the new estate" (976). The collision of east and west has occurred in this passage. Potter does not have a gun because he has taken on the vestiges of the new world. Potter is not completely progressive himself, but he has played the part and been adopted into civilization, hence, becoming a dynamic character."
Abstract This paper reviews the Indian film "Bride and Prejudice" based on Jane Austen's novel, "Pride and Prejudice". The paper discusses how the themes of the original "Pride and Prejudice" set in 1813 Britain, are very closely related to that of the Punjabi Indian Community, especially in terms of arranged marriage.
From the Paper "A 2004 film adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel, set in India, offers a rendition of a story that is very British, at the same time as it is rather Indian. The director, Gurinder Chadha, saw that themes presented in Pride and Prejudice, are rather dear to South Asian cultures that happen to share much that was once important to the respectable early 19th century culture portrayed by Jane Austen. Convention matters, education and demonstrated virtue have remained important, as has the all-encompassing realm of upbringing, social standing, and marriage."
Abstract The author describes ?Picture This? as a work of fiction about Rembrandt's painting "Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer", which was sold to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1961. The author considers the book to be more than a pure novel, as Heller takes the reader through history from Plato to Rembrandt and through the history of the painting itself. The review states that Heller in ?Picture This? has written one-liners for comic effect that sometimes appear to be incoherent.
From the Paper "However, scattered through the book, the writer has given a good deal of material about the canvas painting itself: the model who posed for Aristotle, the circumstances of its creation, the bust of Homer, the commission that directed to this picture and much more. Furthermore, its lineage, which is the list of people who consecutively owned it as it made its way from Amsterdam to Sicily to England to the Metropolitan, has also been discussed. However, the book overall is more or less directly about the painting."
Abstract This paper discusses several aspects of the central theme of "The Picture of Dorian Gray". The portrait and the soul are identified as being synonymous, so that Dorian is affected not by an object, but by his own true image.
Abstract This paper is a historical film review of the John Irvin movie, ?Hamburger Hill.? It examines the movie for content, historical accuracy and context.
From the Paper "John Irvin's film, ?Hamburger Hill,? details the events of the battle in the A Shau Valley to gain control of Dong Ap Bia (a small mountain) during the Vietnam War. It was a ten-day battle, fought up hill, from May 10, 1969 though May 20. Most of the film takes place on Dong Ap Bia (Hill 937), nicknamed "Hamburger Hill" by the soldiers who fought there because of the high amount of casualties. The casualty rate of this battle was 70%, (Larson 1). It consisted of several battalions attacking and retreating for ten days up the hill. Scenes in the movie that show the men scrambling up and sliding down the hill in rain and mud being bombarded by grenades and machine gun fire are horrifically graphic and, unfortunately, accurate, (Larson 1)."
This paper reviews the book "A Respectable Army" by James Kirby Martin and Mark Edward Lender. The author looks at the America's armed forces around the time of the War of Independence.
Abstract The author looks at the America's armed forces around the time of the War of Independence, as detailed in James Kirby Martin and Mark Edward Lender's book, "A Respectable Army." This book review examines whether or not the authors were true to the details of history from the period of the American Revolution. The reviewer looks at the author's sources, and examines the makeup of the army at the time in order to determine whether or not republicanism was the overwhelming motivator in many of these men joining the fight.
From the Paper "When I first read this quote, I knew this is exactly what I was taught in school and always knew of the militia and the role of citizen soldiers. To my dismay this was totally not accurate and the authors did a good job proving this. Now with their first supporting point, they only stated the myths of the war. Now another supporting point later in their historical research proved that the common thought of militia filling the ranks of the army was not true. The Continental Army was hurting badly because of the defeats in Long Island in 1776 and in the Philadelphia Campaign in 1777. So in their third chapter of the book, they looked at how the American army got their manpower to sustain British attacks and wait out until the French arrived. For one the Continental Army started to be the direct opposite of what Americans were fighting for, republicanism."
Abstract A film review of the movie ?Bataan,? and a comparison of its reality with the experiences of E.L. Sledge, in his book ?With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa.? The paper starts with a critical review of the movie and proceeds to provide the writer's own opinions.
From the Paper "We?ll stay as long as we can stand up.? The first man to die in the group thirteen men who are thrown together to defend a dying island, sums up the pervading force in the MGM film ?Bataan,? released in 1943. With his death, the squad is effectively without a leader, and they plunge into the jungle, determined to hold off the entire Japanese army, so General MacArthur can make his escape from the doomed island.
Starring Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan, Desi Arnaz, Robert Walker, and several others, this film, directed by Tay Garnett, attempts to show the realities of war, while showing American's how her fighting men were strong and brave, down to the last man."
Abstract The paper examines and reviews several websites which offer varying opinions on the death penalty. It discusses several articles which give factual information on the Ted Bundy case and the U.S. constitution. Other examples of websites reviewed are Bedau & Radelet's article "Miscarriages of Justice in Potentially Capital Cases" and Morrison's article "Death Penalty: an Ineffective Deterrent" which appears on a Massachusetts Institute of Technology newspaper website.
From the Paper "The FBI's information on Theodore Robert Bundy is also an authoritative and objective source. The material given is a matter-of-fact accounting of the Ted Bundy case, from his initial escape from a Colorado courthouse to his execution. The material has intrinsic value as an accurate source. Ernest van den Haag's defense of capital punishment is an excellent example of authoritative and accurate Internet content. The root webpage is at PBS, a highly respected source. Further, the article is taken from the Harvard Law Review, another highly respected source. The article backs up its arguments with extensive statistics and includes an impressive 30-item notes section that clarifies important concepts and provides material for further reference."
Abstract The objective of this paper is to evaluate what type of impact judicial review has had on Canada's representative democracy by tracing its evolution. Although it is tempting to focus closely on the more controversial and obvious relationship between judicial review and the Charter, this paper will endeavor to highlight the implications of binding adjudication on issues dealing with the distribution of legislative power since 1867.
Abstract The paper studies the concept of an urbanization of religions that is suggested by Waghorne and Orsi in their critiques on the changing landscape of religion in the contemporary setting; "A Review of the Readings". The paper reviews and critiques their positions on sacred spaces in urban settings, with special reference to the Hindu religion.
From the Paper "The concept of an "urbanization" of religions - perhaps better described as the mainstreaming or the popularization of same - is offered by Waghorne and Orsi in their critiques on the changing landscape of religion in the contemporary setting. Waghorne proposes that the popularization of religions distorts their significance and does so through examining modern Hinduism, particularly in regions that have thus far not traditionally been associated with the Hindu religious practices. He notes that "a consideration and awareness of the interplay between economic change and new cultural formations on a global scale ought to center studies of institutional forms of modern Hinduism" and thus it is impossible to reduce the study of Hinduism to "an intellectual proposition" that is somehow shut away from the forces of the modern world (Waghorne, 328)."
Abstract This paper provides an overview and review of a professional web site administered and sponsored by the National Organization for the Advancement of Colored People. The paper looks at the objective of the site, the source of its funding, its discussion of criminal issues, its links to other sites (if such do in fact exist) and its user friendliness. The paper ultimately concludes that, while the official web site could perhaps be bolstered by links to other organizations offering comparable or complementary services to the black community, it nonetheless is easily navigable and delivers its message effectively.
From the Paper "The following three-page paper will briefly review the official web site of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The paper will look at the purpose/objective of the site as well as at the source of funding for the site (at least to the extent possible). The paper will likewise discuss the criminal justice issues given "play" on the web site in addition to discussing the navigability of the site. Not to be overlooked, some time will be devoted to looking at the relevant links found on the site (assuming, of course, that such links are actually present). "
This paper is a literature review concerning the testimonies of John the Baptist in the fourth Gospel as an influential history of Christian theology. Specifically the paper looks at Chapter 6 within the Book of Signs.
Abstract The New Testament contains many witnesses to Jesus Christ, but the testimonies of John in the Fourth Gospel have been among the most influential in the history of Christian theology. In the more than eighteen centuries since its compilation, the Fourth Gospel has been the source of intense interest on the part of those who would better understand how the followers of Jesus came to believe that he was the true Son of God and how and why Jesus accomplished his mission on earth. This study provides a review of the peer-reviewed and scholarly literature concerning the gospel of John, including a survey of the academic literature on the subject since 1948, a description of emerging themes and an assessment of how John 6 is situated within the Gospel. A discussion of Chapter 6 within the Book of Signs and the literary structure of John 6 is followed by a structural analysis of John 6 as a general unit and an analysis of John 6:69 in particular. Finally, a discussion of the context of John 6:69 within the Bread of Life Discourse is followed by a grammatical analysis, a colometric presentation and an interpretation of John 6:69 in the concluding chapter.
Outline:
"The Holy One of God" (John 6:69)
A Survey of the Academic Literature since 1948
Emerging Themes
Situating John 6 within the Gospel
Chapter 6 within the Book of Signs
Literary Structure of John 6
Structural Analysis of John 6 as a Unit
Analysis of John 6:69
John 6:69 Context within the Bread of Life Discourse
John 6:69 Grammatical Analysis Colometric Presentation and Interpretation
From the Paper "Conversely, those who believe in Jesus believe in the one who sent him (12:44). The christological claim of the Fourth Gospel, then, has become so identified with its theological claim that it is no longer possible to speak of Jesus apart from the one who sent him, and it is no longer possible to speak of God apart from the Son whom the Father sent into the world. In a footnote, Matera also notes that, "This establishment of Jesus as Son of God does not mean that he became the Son of God at the Resurrection. Rather, it signifies his messianic enthronement as the Son of God, as the phrase en dynamei ("in power") indicates. Previous to his resurrection, Jesus was, as the Markan Gospel insists, the hidden Messiah. But once raised from the dead, he is enthroned as God's royal Messiah, the Son of God, so that who he was is now apparent."
Abstract This paper provides a critical review of the developmental biology paper: "Identification of Cist Elements Which Direct the Localization of Maternal mRNAs to the Posterior Pole of Ascidians Embryos" by Saskura and Makabe (2002).
