Embracing Diversity Free Essays

Embracing diversity By:College:Course:Professor:Date:Anthropology is the scientific study of humans as social organisms and how they interact with each other in a social gathering or community set up. It entails the study of human ancient, current and cultural changes, physical stature, language characteristics and archaeology. An anthropologist interest lies in comprehending human diversity and way of life in an explicit manner. We will write a custom essay sample on Embracing Diversity or any similar topic only for you Order Now The four main branches of anthropology which include biological, cultural, archaeology and linguistic clearly elaborate what it entails to be human (Lavenda-2013). Biological anthropology talks of how the evolution of humans is genetically influenced and not enhanced by the surroundings. Cultural anthropology is centered on the study of structural system of individuals sharing a common belief or norm. Linguistic anthropology majorly revolves on the psychology of speech, composure and use in human beings. Moreover, archaeology constitutes of the systematic study of human remains through excavation, dating the human remains to know the period of existence and analysis. Anthropology is all about the acquaintance of the unfamiliar with proven facts and provides knowledge that deciphers facts from rumors.Cultural anthropology is a very enticing part of anthropology because it does not only enable one to acknowledge cultural diversity but also develop globally conscious individuals. As mentioned earlier, this part of anthropology explicitly looks human cultures, belief, daily activities, values, ideas, means of livelihood and parts of social and cognitive organization (Lavenda-2010). There are two means by which an anthropologist can study culture due to its abstract nature; empiricist approach, whereby he mainly relies on observation of the human behavior in a particular community set-up and subjective approach in which the researcher understands the structure of ideas and meanings that exist in a member a certain culture. The primitive perception that I personally had about humanity has been scraped off as a result of the in-depth study of cultural anthropology. Individuals and communities were initially characterized by their social, economical and political factors within their localities. Evolutionism has showed a conceptual comprise due to the easy interaction of individuals as a result of the modern evolution of technology that has made every corner of the world accessible to any person. The level of interactions between individuals from a similar ecology niche has almost become non-existence due to the replacement with television programs, movies and soci al electronic devices. Despite this, the social interaction circle has grown larger as a result of technology which enables an individual interact with more people different from parts of the world over a short period of time. This study has personally helped me get over the notion that Muslims are associated with terrorism. I initially felt fear when I was in an environment filled with Muslims; well, not Muslims alone but any individual wearing a veil. This mostly applied to Muslim women that wear the veils covering up their faces, leaving out the eyes. I can attribute this fear from to the society I grew in; I was used to my Christian community before I came to campus. The laws and beliefs we had were so strict that we feared other dominions, this seclusion was driven into us by the clergy; to make us believe that people that had different beliefs and practices were potential risks and could harm us at any time. The primitive notion that was instilled in me always had a bearing to this question; if they are good people, why do they find it relevant to cover their faces that much? The definite answer was that they had something to hide; not only secrets but sinister motives. Religious profiling and the threats that came to our country and get aired on national television also cultivated the fear in me. It would have never reached this point if my parents would not have been reacting to the issue with so much disgust as they used to do. My elementary and high school environments were more or less the same because all my schooling up to university level were based in the same strictly Christian district. There were some primitive practices we used to do that I now see them to have been very hurting if not shameful to the face of evolution and humanity at large; there was no shaking of hands or exchanging pleasantries with non-Christians, no accepting gifts from them and worst still, avoid all conversations. I can’t imagine that I would literally snob them! I must admit that I had a tough time adjusting to the campus environment. I was always tensed in my first semesters when a non Christian would sit next t me. I remember a particular case when I came to a lecture late and found all seats occupied except one; next to Sikh, I literally missed that 2 hour lecture and had to struggle with my continuous assessment test. It is during that course that I made a turning point and my point was later boosted when I got to learn about anthropology. The struggle I had in my first continuous assessment test was the same one I had in the second. Ironically, the Sikh boy who I was evading was the same one that noticed my problem and came to help. At first I was adamant but with lack of options I thought; why not give it a try. I must admit that that is the sweetest memory I hold dear and use it to enlighten my rural folk later on. With that act of compassion I learnt that religion does or dress code does not define someone’s character. Study of anthropology has helped know the value that I hold about my culture and the justifications I give to the are the same ones that any other person would give in support to their religion and culture. It also taught me that judging or profiling others because f ethnicity and background is a heinous notion; if everyone was to discriminate then the world would be an unbearable place to stay. All we could be witnessing are endless fights and ultimate wars. Cultural anthropology thus, aims at enabling the native of a particular culture objectively and rationally understands their own culture to deduce what makes them stand out from the other cultural groups hence upholding the aspect of self acceptance. Besides, it enables one apply the knowledge gained from familiarizing with different cultures to alleviate human challenges and misconceptions rather than causing ethnic conflicts. The collective study of different cultures enables scholars to identify the similarities and unique aspect of various cultures, hence embracing diversity.References:Robert H LavendaCore concept in cultural anthropologyRobert H LavendaAnthropology: What does it mean to be human? How to cite Embracing Diversity, Papers

Betting In Singapore Online

Question: Discuss about the Online Betting Singapore ? Answer : Introducation Technology has an immense role in gambling practices and continues to depict the rise of new market opportunities. One of the achievements that technology brought in regards to gambling, is the online betting. Online betting is the act of using established internet sites for gambling money in unpredictable events such as sports, and any other events (Gainsbury and Blaszczynski, 2014). This paper focuses on the issue of online betting in Singapore. The paper puts into light the importance and also drawbacks of the Singapore government allowing online betting. Everyone has an opinion about gambling, because it is one of an unavoidable things in life. For the Singapore government, it is clear that they have softened their stand on having strict laws that do not allow betting. The Singapore government recently approved the application of two lottery operators, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club to have an array of online gambling activities (Kotwani and Chia, 2017). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has however, reiterated that the betting firms should only allow individuals who are twenty-one years and above to participate in online betting. It is an open secret that the current twenty-first-century generation has a high appetite for betting and it is likely that the Singapore government will soften their strict regulation regarding online betting in the near future. Societal issues associated with online betting The unprecedented move by the Singapore government to allow the two lottery firms, Singapore Pools, and Singapore Turf Club to conduct online betting so that Singaporeans can enjoy online betting services, comes as a result of the strong sentiments by the high moral standards of Singapore society. Anything to do with gambling has always been associated with the vices in society. Addiction is the most prevalent social vices associated with betting. According to Morrison, (2008) out of ten people who are gamblers, only one of them is not addicted. This implies by the Singapore government allowing online betting operation by the two lottery firms, many people are likely to be rendered addicts. Gambling has grave effects on families regarding money issues. With the advent of online betting, it is easy for an individual to conduct an online transaction to fulfill betting desires. It is evident that most people have lost savings property and also belongings as a result of gambling. By allowing online betting, young males and females are likely to become good for nothing if they fall prey to betting. Allowing online betting in Singapore means that physical and mental health is likely to be prevalent. Anxiety, depression, stress and poor sleep is likely to be common especially when ones bets deviate and fails to win (Ho?rnle and Zammit, 2010). For a parent who indulges in online betting, it means that the children will stand forgotten and depressed. This can inhibit the proper growth of children, for instance, children may react to a parent's gambling problem by misbehaving. Benefits of Singapore government allowing online betting The advent of allowing regulation of online betting in Singapore means the economy is about to be on the rise. It is significant to note that illegal betting has grave effects on the economy. But for the regulated online betting like Singapores means a rise of an economy. The two betting firms will create employment opportunities to have people work in their firms. Besides, the government can get a direct benefit from the online betting through penalties and taxes (Horridge, 2017). The fact that many people over the age of twenty-one will be eligible for online betting, means that more individuals will engage in income generating activities thus reducing the dependency ratio. Online gambling makes gambling regulation to be easy. In agreement with the Singapores Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Lee, having an online control betting is similar to the way other countries control the use of alcohol and cigarettes. He at one time asserted that online betting has little health disadvantages and they are good for people to get quick money. Online betting unlike any other vices, channels individuals who are a focus in income generation but not crime due to drug abuse. The Singapore government decision to legalize gambling is the fact that it has embraced reality. The reality is that there are some Singaporeans who initially indulge themselves in the worldwide online betting illegally and it is better to provide a safer environment for people to conduct themselves in (Libraryindex.com, 2017). The advent of advanced technology and bright individuals means that there are a lot of individuals who will trickle in to participate in online gambling. When there is a regulation for Singaporeans to perform this money making task, then it would not be a vice. Reasons why allowing online betting by Singapore government is not a good idea Despite the Singapore government having allowed and regulated the online betting activity also means that money laundering activities is eased. Money laundering is the act of passing money through third parties so as to make the sources of illegal money unknown. In this case, money launders are likely to deposit a large amount of money into online betting sites and withdraw it later with legitimate bank accounts. Criminal cyber activities become eminent through online betting. Established online betting sites in other countries have expressed their fears of cyber criminals. It has been reported on several occasions that these cunning individuals can access online betting customers financial credit cards and steal money from them (Chambliss, 2011). What should worry most about Singapore is the likelihood that the hackers will not only focus on the two betting sites once they set their eyes on Singapore. The hackers might extend to the governments online platforms hence compromising government security. Any economic activity such as betting is supposed to generate revenue for the government. However, online betting is advantageous to the customers of the betting company. They get money which is unregulated and untaxed, an act which is wrong. Singapore like any other government, will face the problem where people have money which is not taxed and not regulated (Williams, 2012). In conclusion, online betting is the most prevalent form betting that is worldwide thus making it hard for betting phobic countries such as Singapore to ignore. It is important to realize that as much as online betting has a great economic impact on a country, it also encourages money laundering and cyber-crime. To have moderated online betting activities, Singapore should not loosen its strict laws it has in place for online betting. References Chambliss, W. (2011).Crime and Criminal Behavior. 1st ed. Sage, p.106. Gainsbury, S. and Blaszczynski, A. (2014).Exploring internet gambling. 1st ed. London: Routledge, p.66. Ho?rnle, J. and Zammit, B. (2010).Cross-border online gambling law and policy. 1st ed. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, p.167. Horridge, K. (2017).Benefits of Legalized Gambling; The Economic To The Social. [online] Casino.org Blog. Available at: https://www.casino.org/blog/gambling-and-the-law-the- good-the-bad-and-the-ridiculous/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2017]. Libraryindex.com. (2017).Internet Gambling - The Effects Of Online Gambling. [online] Available at: https://www.libraryindex.com/pages/1620/Internet-Gambling-EFFECTS- ONLINE-GAMBLING.html [Accessed 14 Mar. 2017]. Kotwani, M. and Chia, L. (2017).Government exempts Singapore Pools, Turf Club from online gambling ban. [online] Channel NewsAsia. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/government-exempts-singapore-pools- turf-club-from-online/3162930.html [Accessed 14 Mar. 2017]. Morrison, J. (2008).International Business: Challenges in a Changing World. 1st ed. Palgrave Macmillan, p.172. Williams, R. (2012).Routledge international handbook of internet gambling. 1st ed. New York, NY: Routledge, p.357.

Whats so bad about feeling good Essay Example For Students

Whats so bad about feeling good? Essay Politics and circumstance have conspired, it seems, to land us squarely in the No Generation: Sex is dangerous, private freedoms are public business, personal flamboyance is suspect. Small wonder that were nostalgic for the profligate pastfor a time when the sensualist was ascendent, when the flouting of conventional wisdom earned one a place, paradoxically, in the wisest of coteries; when the real social danger seemed to be in not exercising freedom. If it werent too close for clear-eyed perspective, the 1970sthe so-called Me Generationmight serve as an antidote to the censorious present. But theatre companies are gazing further back: to the rich and complex allurements of the Restoration. In todays pleasure-negative atmosphere, the Restoration comedies of 300 years ago might seem on the surface to be pretty museum pieces, distant and enticing. But recent attention paid them by Actors Theatre of Louisville and Washington, D.C.s Arena Stage attest to their affinities with our present age. ATLs Classics in Context Festival, culminating in a visitors weekend last Oct. 9-11, addressed the social, aesthetic and political influences surrounding the plays of Etherege, Wycherley, Behn, Congreve and Farquhar. Three days of lectures and colloquia were accompanied by productions of John Aubreys Brief Lives and Farquhars The Beaux Stratagem. The following week, Arena opened Congreves The Way of the World. Outline1 An explosion of license  2 Practicing safer theatre  3 Artifice twice removed   An explosion of license   We will write a custom essay on Whats so bad about feeling good? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now No mere exercise in theatre history, the Louisville conference was illuminated throughout by sparks of contemporary recognition. To quote Wycherleys Lady Fidget, Comparisons are odious. But who could miss the analogy to the age of AIDS when it was pointed out that the London Plague of 1665 was thought by some at the time to be divine retribution against a licentious era? Without explicitly evoking modern corollaries, Albert Wertheim of Indiana University implied that the cycle of expression and repression of artistic freedom that whirled through the Restoration is one that is spinning around even today. The periods explosion of theatrical license was the result of Oliver Cromwells Puritan rule over England from 1642 to 1660; Wertheim raised hopes that perhaps, after an analogous 12-year Republican reign, we are today preparing for another explosion. As Columbia Universitys Julie Stone Peters detailed the inextricable relationship between art, sex and politics in the hyper-eroticized court of Charles II, one couldnt help but ponder what a queasy mixture those ingredients make today. Just as sex has become increasingly politicized in the 1990s, profanity and moral turpitude were utilized as a political cudgel at the end of the 17th century. A reading from Jeremy Colliers 1698 diatribe A Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English Stage, peppered with words like smuttiness, debauchery, indecency and rankness, evoked the Rev. Donald Wildmon and his American Family Associations attacks on blasphemous and obscene art. A discussion on the necessity of embracing the controversial became so volatile that several Louisville audience members got up and left the auditorium during the weekends concluding colloquium on theatre censorship. Practicing safer theatre   The voluptuous pleasures of watching a play are ideally selfless, and therefore moral. An examination of the immorality of the Restoration stage and its period reveals a surprisingly moral landscape. In selecting Restoration plays for production, both ATL and Arena took a self-consciously restricted modern perspective: Despite the promising lure of outrage and delight, the two companies ultimately practiced safer theatre, deflating the impassioned plea voiced in Louisville by Ben Cameron, formerly of the National Endowment of the Arts, that theatre reclaim the issues of principle rather than taste, of the long-term investment in the creative spirit rather than the issues of momentary comfort. Satire, by its very nature, has a moral purpose. Although leaning toward the good-natured, sentimental plays of Steele and the later laughing comedies of Sheridan and Goldsmith, Farquhars Beaux Stratagemthe centerpiece of the Classics in Context weekendbuilds from this morally satiric base. ATLs literary manager Michael Bigelow Dixon asserts that this most frequently produced comedy of the 18th century presents a portrait of necessitythe necessary actions that men and women must take in a society that discriminates and limits the rights of women, younger sons and the lower classes. When he wrote the play in 1707, Farquhar was poor, ill and wretchedly married, and so his actual intention may not have been to repair widespread societal wrongs so much as to paint a portrait of freedom from individual pain. Yet the two things are really the same. His last line, though in reference to Englands as yet unestablished divorce laws, is a vestige of the lubricousness that ruled Charles IIs cour t some 40 years earlier: Consent is law enough to set you free. As an anthem from the 1960s put it: If it feels good, do it. Personal happiness seems an unexalted goal, but not if it is embraced with bravura and gusto. In the ATL production of Beaux Stratagem, unfortunately, the lovers, the schemers, the thieves, the intoxicants all seemed to go through their paces for reasons other than sensual fulfillment, emphasizing stratagem over desire. Ray Frys production of John Aubreys Brief Lives, adapted by Patrick Garland, gave a truer taste and feel of Restoration life. In Paul Owens outstanding scenic design, the smell of rotting fruit, chamber pots and scalded milk was almost palpable. William McNulty as Aubrey addressed the audience directly, implicating us in his web of gossip and delineating a character who would desiccate and perish without these tales to tell. Ultimately, Aubreys own life is a sad one because it is virtually non-existent; he defines himself by others deeds and thoughts, by the mandates of the status quo, by the necessities of appearance in a beau monde. Rather than exposing the rank underbelly of society, Congreves 1770 Way of the World with its perukes, powders, chiffon and convolutions of plot that detract from harsher sexual-political realities takes a safer route than, say, Ethereges Man of Mode or Vanbrughs The Relapse or Wycherleys The Plain Dealer, which skewer uptight, upright moralists. Writing under more-or-less self-imposed censorship, Congreve was responding to both a shifting popular taste and the very public temper tantrum of the Rev. Jeremy Collier. (Collier reserved especially damning censure for Congreves earlier plays, particularly Love for Love.) Although reluctant to enter into the fray, Congreve published his own pamphlet in 1698, Amendments of Mr. Colliers False and Imperfect Citations, in which he defends his own dramaturgy. I will not justify any of myerrors; I am sensible of many, he wrote later, admitting that there are crimes too daring and too horrid for comedy. What starts out as apologia ends up reading like apology. Disheartened, perhaps, by self-censorship, Congreve was to make Way of the World his last play. .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .postImageUrl , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:hover , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:visited , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:active { border:0!important; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:active , .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u47bf107042d169f3e13ef189a493c4ac:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Moot Essay Artifice twice removed   Congreve superimposes on his characters the suppression he himself was experiencing. The way of his world is the way of self-negation; nowhere in the play is there any of the freewheeling, free-spirited hedonism (except the love for money) that propelled his earlier works. Even the romantic relationships are reduced to purely mercenary levels; the courtship of Millamont and Mirabell, for example, culminates in the famous proviso scene an uncannily prophetic version of todays prenuptial agreement. The modern parallels of Way of the World have more to do with the events surrounding the writing of the play than with the experience of watching it; though purporting to show us the way of the Restoration world, it merely tells us what it looked and felt like, and even that representation is artifice twice removed because Congreve was writing under pressure the pressure of a changing society. But if Arenas production of Way of the World was unsanguine, it was no fault of the director, designers or actors. This visually stunning production unfolded in a series of artificial tableaux, pretty and arch, against a painted floor by Loy Arcenas depicting secret missives and watchful eyes, and with sumptuous costumes by Paul Tazewell. A clever new prologue written by production dramaturg Laurence Maslon helped explain the nearly inexplicable relationships between the characters. The direction by Kyle Donnelly was taut, rooted in time and personality. She transplanted the opening sceneoriginally set in a chocolate house to a steaming room. The sight of Mirabell, Fainall and Witwoud draped in nothing but towels was thematically bold; stripped of their waistcoats, breeches and wigs, the characters could have been our contemporaries. Juicier figs of the Restoration are ripe for picking. If a modern-day renaissance of Restoration studies and theatre is indeed underway, let us make our choices as brazen and as combative as the early Restoration, but with the full understanding that, inevitably, the cycle will come around again, and a New Puritanism will resurface. As it always has. Perhaps it is the spinning of the wheel that determines from time to time our freedom.

Challenges of the Media in Representing Gender

Challenges of the Media in Representing Gender Introduction The issue of gender and equality has been a subject of discussion for a long time in many parts of the world. Since gender is an outcome of socialization, various factors and agents of socialization contribute greatly to the heated debate of gender identity. Studies of Eschholz Bufkin (2001) record that media can be described as a site where the battle concerning gender related issues is fought.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Challenges of the Media in Representing Gender specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is due to the fact that media is not only popular but also but also wide as it includes, print, audio, visual and audio visual. It is not easy to underestimate various roles played by the media. Nonetheless, scholars have raised a major concern concerning representation of gender in the media. Even through all media is affected by the challenge of gender representation, film and movie ind ustries are greatly affected by same. Several studies which have been conducted illustrate that movies and films are characterized by gender stereotype and violence. Before raising an accusing finger at the industry, it is important to note that the main aim of the industry is to make profit which is only achievable by meeting demands of the audience. However, that does not imply that the industry does not have a great role of ensuring that gender representation is done adequately. Nonetheless, with the current challenges that affect gender like people’s perception and lack of fixed gender identity, movies are challenged to represent gender accurately and balance between making profit and pleasing the audience. With that background in mind, this paper shall focus on various challenges experienced media in representing gender and ensuring that their targets are met. Background Information It is important to research on the trend of gender representation in various films to be in a position to understand various challenges that may have contributed to the situation. Various studies have been conducted to research on roles played by female characters in various movies and films. It is true that movies and films contain both female and male characters and they do play different and various roles. According to the studies of Gilpatric (2010), some people have been having a problem by roles played by women characters the action movies. Further studies indicated that in various action movies, it is rare to have female characters playing as hero and in case they appear, it is only in a romantic relationship. Worse still, even in a romantic relationship, there is usually a strong male character in control of everything. Results in a content analysis illustrated that even in films featuring male dominated professionals, women usually take lesser roles and more often that not, they are usually involved with love affairs.Advertising Looking for research pap er on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many films illustrate women as more feminine since they are displayed as sensitive, easy to manipulate and romantic. On the other hand, men are more masculine as they are illustrated as risk takers, athletic and more aggressive. Such results are clear indications that most of the movies are characterized by gender stereotype since most of the character traits displayed are masculine and feminine stereotypes. Challenges the Media Faces in Representing Gender People’s Perception on Gender The issue of gender is a controversial issue in all sectors. Therefore, it becomes a major challenge for the media to deal with an already controversial topic. In the current world, people have got their own understanding of gender roles. For instance, in many societies, men are viewed as superior to women and are associated with various masculine stereotype character traits. Likewi se, women are also viewed as inferior to men and more often than not, they are associated with feminine stereotype character traits like submissiveness and sensitivity. Moreover, the issue of gender stereotypes is a mater of concern not only to feminists but also to other people in the society. Therefore, people are always sensitive to any advert, film or movie that touches on gender issues. Given that people have their own perception of gender, they end up using the same in interpretation of various movies and films. This issue was well illustrated in the studies of Lee (2008) after carrying out a study to research on the interpretation of people on various marriages that are featured in Disney Films. The results of the study indicated that most of informants viewed marriages in the film in relation to their perception towards gender. For example, to the majority, men usually accomplish their goals without many hindrances while women have got a lot of obstacles to overcome. Althoug h some were able to point out that there are some personal preferences that hinder marriage, some we are still more focused on roles of women in the traditional set up as well as the unfair treatment of women. The issue of gender being a sensitive and controversial requires no emphasis. Moreover, the research has indicated that people have their own perception on gender and other same is prone to change. This is due to the fact that some women who were interviewed made their interpretations in relation to the traditional gender roles while others based their argument on the views present in the contemporary society.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Challenges of the Media in Representing Gender specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In such a situation, it is a big challenge for the media and the film industry to adequately represent both genders when people have their own perception. Worse still, perceptions are not only diverse, but do change with time. It is clear that there is no satisfactory position that media can take even if it is expected to represent gender appropriately. Balancing Between Making Profits and Pleasing the Audience The foremost aim of the movie industry is making profits and it can only be achieved by making sure that the needs of the audience are met. To begin with, the audience comprises both males and females and all do posses different views concerning gender. Men enjoy most when they watch films that display women who are more submissive and less independent. On the contrary, women especially in the current world are more pleased when they watch films featuring independent women. The current era is characterized by transition from the traditional outlook of gender where women were inferior to men to the modern outlook where equality is emphasized. However, it is important to note that there are still some people in the society whose view on gender is determined by traditional beliefs and values. For instance, the study which was conducted in Disney marriages indicated that although some people in the society are more realistic when interpreting films, there are others who are guided by the traditional outlook of gender and gender roles (Lee 2008). Since there a lot of changes concerning the issues related to gender, the movie industry is expected to change accordingly which is a major challenge. It is a fact that women and men may have conflicting views on gender and gender roles. In addition the movie industry must meet the needs of both in order to make any profit. More often than not, movies that meet the needs of men may not end up meeting the needs of women. For instance, films like Tomb Raider featuring Lara Croft and the Kill Bill show that feature empowered women may evoke negative views from men whose perception on gender is defined by traditional outlook. On the other hand, the same movie may become very important to women of the post modernism era. Therefore, in such a situation, movie industry and movie makers are usually at a loss when deciding which position to take. Although it is argued that such films and movies are still making, either position taken just displays inappropriate gender representation. However, a critical analysis of the situation and issues present in the society concerning gender explain how hard it is to arrive at an appropriate representation (Smelik, 2010).Advertising Looking for research paper on gender studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There is no Fixed Gender Identity Gender identity refers to an individual’s perception in relation to either being male or female and the same may be different from the biological sex. However, to many people, gender identity is defined by the biological sex. It is important to note that currently there are some people who may be biologically females but do identify themselves as males. Similarly, there are other biological males who identify themselves as females. Such a situation is defined by studying various characteristics that define gender like gender roles. Apart from that, there are other people who are in between male and females and are usually referred to as transsexual. Although the situation may have been there before, it is more prevalent currently since as highlighted earlier, there is a change in gender roles and other characteristics that define gender. Therefore, when focusing about gender representation, it is not clear which gender is being focused on. In itially, there was a major problem in representing males and females as the only options of gender. Although studies of Gilpatric (2010) indicate that there has been an issue of gender misrepresentation in the movie industry, the worst hit is the advertisement industry. This is attributed to the fact that gender representation in advertising is characterized by sexism as most advertisements contain behaviours and attitudes that favour one gender. In most advertisements, women are usually illustrated as sexual objects. Studies of Cortese (2008) illustrate that most advertisements do not only help in bringing out the difference between men and women but also in illustrating the cultural assumption of most people that men are superior to women. The situation becomes worse when advertising beauty products since a beautiful woman is usually illustrated as tall, smooth and slender. Although masculinity is also displayed in the mass media through various advertisements, women are usually i llustrated sex objects. The world is also characterized by violence towards women and the advertising industry plays a very big role in the same. This is usually due to the advertisement of alcoholic beverages that promote violence against women. In addition, most of the advertisements contain pictures illustrating sexual violence. Studies of Eschholz Bufkin (2001) also illustrate that even other films and movies are characterized by violence. The case on advertising just illustrates how hard it has been to represent both males and females, no matter the necessity. It is explicit that dealing with males and females is a major problem. Therefore, lack of fixed gender identity complicates the issue even further. This is due to the fact that it is not obvious for a man to take the gender identifying of males and the same case applies to women. More to that the gender identity may change as a result of exposure to various factors that affect gender like the issue of culture which is no t only dynamic but also prone to change. Such factors make gender representation not only difficult, but also a complicated issue due to the fact that with the changing gender roles, it is difficult to mark appropriate gender representation. Conclusion The challenge of media in representing gender needs no emphasis although some believe that the media is not doing enough. This due to the fact that the issue of gender and gender roles is heavily affected by culture which is not only dynamic, but also prone to change. It is easier to conclude that media should embrace change especially in relation to gender roles in the society (Gauntlett, 2008). On the other hand, it bears noting that societies are very diverse. For example, in places like United States, a woman is viewed as independent and less submissive. In places like Asia as illustrated in the film ‘No Joy, No Luck’, the issue of submissiveness is not a stereotype but a fact (Hegedorn 1994). Therefore, it is questio nable how the Asian movies can fulfil the expectation of the audience and at the same time promote narcissism amongst women. In addition, in advertisement, studies of Cortese (2008) indicate that people are currently complaining against the advertisements which are offensive and the same was unheard of some years back. Bent on that, it is important to recognize that media has got many challenges in representing gender due to many factors like lack of fixed gender identity, peoples perception on culture as well as balancing between making profit and meeting the needs of the audience. Therefore, as much as there should be appropriate gender representation, there many hindrances which ought not to be overlooked References Cortese, A. J. (2008). Images of Women and Minorities in Advertising. New York: Rowman Littlefield. Eschholz, S. Bufkin, J. (2001). Crime in the Movies: Investigating the Efficacy of Measures of Both Sex and Gender for Predicting Victimization and Offending in Film. Sociological Forum, 16 (4), 655-676. Gauntlett, D. (2008). Media, gender and identity: an introduction. Abingdon: Taylor Francis. Gilpatric, K. (2010). Violent Female Action Characters in Contemporary American Cinema. Sex Roles, 62, 734–746. Hagedorn, J. (1994). Asian Women in Film, No Joy, No Luck. Academic Research Library, 4 (4), 74-80. Lee, L. (2008). Understanding Gender through Disney’s Marriages: A Study of Young Korean Immigrant Girls. Early Childhood Educ (36), 11-18. Smelik, A. (2010). Lara Croft: Kill Bill and the Battle for Theory in Feminists Film Studies. Singapore Management University.

Analysis of Fuzzy Logic

Analysis of Fuzzy Logic This was a paper on Fuzzy Logic I wrote for my Programming in C++ Intro class, I dont think it is very good myself. You could probably use it in a intro to computers class, or some kind of high school programming class. I have no idea what I got on the paper, I dont have the graded copy any more. This would be a great paper to use as a starting point. Hope this saves you some time and effort. Fuzzy Logic What is fuzzy logic? How does it differ from conventional logic? Who discovered fuzzy logic? How can it be used today? How is it being used, and by whom? These questions are questions I will attempt to answer in this brief discussion of fuzzy logic, so let us begin. The first and most important question is What is fuzzy logic? Fuzzy logic the logic people use in day to day decisions. Instead of all items falling into one set, as in conventional logic, items can fall into multiple sets. A good example would be the big cat question. There are two sets in this problem The cat is golden, and The cat is black. A lion clearly fits into the first set The cat is golden. A Black Panther clearly fits into the second set The cat is black. But what about a jaguar, it has a golden coat with black spots, it does not clearly fit into any one of the sets, so it a part of both. The main difference between fuzzy logic, and conventional logic is this. Conventional logic holds that something cannot be a mender of two sets. Fuzzy logic holds that things can be a part of multiple sets. The term fuzzy logic was brought forth in 1965 by a professor at the University of Berkeley, named Lofti A. Zadeh. Zadeh wondered why it was that people can base decisions on imprecise, non-numerical information, yet they are better at making complex decisions that machines. These ideas were presented to the world in 1973, in his paper titles Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. In this paper Zadeh introduced the idea of a linguistic variable, and a fuzzy IF-THEN rule. The concepts introduced in this paper paved the way for real world applications. Now a days fuzzy logic is being used in many different fields, and in many different ways. Some fuzzy-based consumer products include camcorders, washing machines, color TVs, and fuzzy computer chips. Unfortunately the US has been very slow to use this new type of logic. All of the products listed above were created by Japanese companies. Part of the reason US companies were so slow to utilize this new type of logic my stem from cultural differences between the eastern, and western ways of thinking. In conclusion fuzzy logic has many applications that havent even been explored yet, and in some applications it is better than conventional logic.

Government Regulation of Climate Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Government Regulation of Climate Change - Essay Example n the atmosphere is believed to cause extreme climatic conditions such as droughts, torrential rains, floods and heat waves and these have catastrophic effects on human beings and animals. However, of growing concern is the fact that human activities as a result of industrialization are responsible for causing global warming which is a main contributor to climate change. As such, government regulation of climate change is imperative in order to address this dire situation which is a major threat to people’s lives in the near long run if left unabated. Gore (2006, p. 5) says: â€Å"In every corner of the globe- on land and in water, in melting ice and in disappearing snow, during heat waves and droughts, in eyes of hurricanes and in tears of refugees- the world is witnessing mounting and undeniable evidence that nature’s cycles are profoundly changing.† These extreme changes in climate are making some parts of the globe uninhabitable. Thus, a holistic approach should be taken in order to combat this threat to the climate. Whilst industrial development is necessary to our lives, it must be noted that environmental concerns should also be given priority since they can lead to catastrophic climate changes discussed above. Therefore, government regulation on climate change is imperative. This can significantly help in addressing some of the problems that are caused by human activities with regards to the impacts of global warming. The government being the overall authority in the country, it has the power effect measures that are designed to address the issue of climate change. The government can use command and control regulations where it promulgates policies that are meant to ensure that certain actions are prohibited. For instance, the government can put measures that are meant to minimise the use of substances that are responsible for emitting excessive quantities of greenhouse gas emissions such as coal. The government can also put stringent measures that

Markets & Water rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Markets & Water rights - Essay Example The researcher states that questions regarding property become problematic when it comes to properties that stretch over the boundaries of many private properties (as well as public properties) owned by several owners such as water bodies like streams or rivers. Therefore, it worthwhile to analyze water rights in the light of property issues. McPherson states that property has different connotations in different contexts and he rightly argues that property is a right and not physical possession. For instance, a person may be in possession of a house on rent or for safekeeping on behalf of a friend or a landlord, but that does not mean that the current occupant is the owner of the property. Assuming that rights will settle the matter as to who owns the property there are several instances where the boundaries of rights can become confusing. One is where the property is described as a common one and the other is where the property in question is a water body. As McPherson purports ever yone has an 'enforceable claim to use' common lands, public parks, city streets, highways. On the other hand, there are state-owned properties like for example, NASA or other properties owned by the state and federal governments. These properties do not provide the same rights to citizens as do common properties. Such properties are maintained for some specific purpose aimed at the benefit of the society or individual sections of the society and not for individual enjoyment. A court of law is an ideal example, which does not provide an enforceable claim to use sections of the property as in the case of a park or a highway. It may be used under certain conditions to address the rights of citizens to enforce law. The question here is where water bodies that cannot be defined clearly fall in the case of property rights. In an area where there is abundant rainfall or availability of common water bodies, this might not be much of an issue. But the case of the American West, where availab ility of water is more of an issue, the rights of property becomes an issue that needs legal and statutory assistance to find a settlement. Gillian and Brown, in their paper titled 'Instream flow protection' has discussed this issue in some detail, referring to the history of water disputes and laws right from the start of colonization of the country. For instance, the Spaniards followed their own domestic water laws which provide the property owner to use water flowing through their property. But public benefit would override private needs and in such an instance, the latter would prevail. British settlers, who back home had few problems with water, were not as well prepared. After attaining independence, different states in the union had to develop their own laws regarding management of water and most were made according to current demands at the time. For example, the California gold rush prompted lawmakers to allow property owners to use water for their own use. American law fol lowing British statutes aimed at implementing what is known as the Riparian law whereby any owner who has access to flowing water (watercourse) adjacent or through his property can make reasonable use of it for his own use.