Author: chris

Question one

Definitions of myth are influenced by the discipline where they are established. For instance, religion, literature and philosophy all have distinguished approaches. When a culture or community perpetuate stories and accounts involving divine or supernatural interventions that seek to explain phenomena otherwise not rationally justifiable, a myth is formed. An important distinction of myths from folklore and fairy tales is they are not chiefly, for entertainment or moral lessons but they explain occurrences in religions and social circles as well as explicating cultural rituals. On the other hand, the word myth has an aspect of multiplicity of meaning where it is used to describe a person, an event or a location.

One chief purpose of a myth is humanizing for the ability of comprehension the spiritual or unseen world. This is imperative in making a person or a culture have reverence, deep convictions and a sense of responsibility to a higher being. This awe can be said to facilitate worship and religious rituals dedicated to the higher beings. Another mythical function is explaining the cosmos or the arrangement and existence of the universe. The dire question of existence plaguing humanity in general is explained exclusively by cultures through myths. It gives a sense of understanding on the features of the earth like volcanoes, its apparent shape, the heavens and stars as well as likely future.

On the social platform, myths are of paramount importance in setting up norms and ethics governing interactions between persons. Social responsibility in form of justice and fairness placed upon an individual is justified by use of myths. They further elaborate the punitive and corrective measures inherent incase one subverts from the expected order in the community. The last function is on psychological facet, where myths seek to explain personalities and the diverse pattern of life unique to individuals, families or genders.

Question four

Aggression arising from religious ideals is definitely a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of true religion. It is important to dismember violence justified by religion by functions. To start with, aggression in religion is perpetuated in name of forcing individuals, communities or cultures into adhering to those religious beliefs. This however contradicts the facts that religion concurs man is given a free will and God has the potency enough to change a persons conviction supernaturally without using exterior fear. Imperative to this line of thought is God’s potency and gift of free will. In the lightest of terms, this can neither be termed as religious ritual because every element in a ritual has spiritual significance, as is not the case in people dying, buildings falling and use of weaponry.

Another reason for religious motivated aggression that casts doubt on interpretation of religion is justice. Punishing evil of other persons who do not ascribe to beliefs of the religion contradicts the agreed role of God as judge in religion. All most all religions that currently perpetuate violence or have been known to do so in the past agree on a certain day of reckoning, famous the judgment day. In addition, this violence is elevated beyond human comprehension and rationality by being termed holy. This is a sharp contrast in fundaments of religion, where religions insist they are peace oriented and the important war at hand is between God and evil. Moreover, religions teach of God’s love for and expectation of humanity. Drawing closer to God, in communion or ritual is to make someone more godly-minded. However, these two facts are contradicted when drawing closer to divinity instills hatred directed at humanity, a creation of the divine. Concisely stated, misinterpretations whether deliberate or unintentional is to blame for violence and aggression motivated by religious ideals.

Advantages of starting one’s business

Starting one’s business or self-employment in common circles has amazing statistics. It is easier for one to be rich taking into consideration that two-thirds of American millionaires are self-employed. To an individual, starting one’s business can be challenging and risky but prudence makes self-employment lucrative. The reasons why one would opt for this do range from financial to self-actualization purposes. The ability to control one’s expenses and consequently the tax deductibles especially in the current tax burdened atmosphere is very desirable and is a perfect example of the financial influencers. On the other hand, the ability to pursue one’s passion and the indefinite room for expansion on the business venture effectively serves in self-actualization.

Expounding on self-actualization, when one starts a business that is able to generate employment and give back to the local community, a sense of fulfillment is attained. On a personal basis, there is enormous room for self-autonomy in terms of rating as well as attaching a price to one’s services, goods and time. Research has shown the self-employed worker earns approximately 20-40 percent more per hour as to the employed person. The self-autonomy extends to regulating one’s working hours and spending or plough backs to the business. This results from the fact you are your own supervisor and by your best judgments and knowledge you make the business decisions. An implication of this is that one gets to choose the most desirable business form, the range varying from self-proprietorship to corporations. Additionally, decision-making is faster given the absence of the red tape or bureaucracy.

On the financial leave, the amount earned is limitless given that one is rewarded proportionally to quality and quantity of the work done. To exemplify other accruing advantages, one can employ friends and close of kin persons while still terming it salaries in the tax returns. Additionally, the business cash flow is made more efficient by the absence of withholding tax and bigger control over money dispersions. The fact one can choose where to operate from is also an imperative advantage of course depending on the business form one chooses. On a wholesome perspective, entrepreneurship growth in the economy is attained from the numerous individual pursuing self-employments through the starting of personal businesses.

To date it has been observed people who choose to take the risk and start their own businesses are happier and more fulfilled. Regardless of the economic vulnerability present, one gets to be a greater determiner of his/her ultimate economic destiny concurrently resting from the hassle of the labor market in the employer-employee relationship. Starting one’s business is in all ways recommended since the potential personal and economic growth is immeasurable and indefinite.

IT and the work life/ home life balance

In the current world, a large number of people are involved in a 24/7 working environment. Most people have experiences in both working and nonworking situations in their lives. Lack of balance in life has become a norm today because of too much work. Lack of balance in life has some negative effects such as stress, which occurs as a result of conflicting requirements between work and family activities and may result into healthy issues (Mehdi, 2001). My experience in this 24/7 working environment is that I lacked balance between work and family. Therefore, my satisfaction at workplace was affected by the satisfaction I got from my family. This means that the requirements at work place conflict with the demands of the family.

To a small extent, information technology of various sorts play a very significant part in enabling this kind of increased connection between work and home life. This is because information technology promotes working methods, changes the style of living, communication modes and the way workers conduct their activities at work place. Information technology leads to efficiency and effectiveness at work place. It also helps in the reduction of work load, thus enabling people create some time for their nonworking activities. Example of information technologies’ used include the internet sources, improved communication methods that facilitates a good working environment among others important technologies.

This seems like a good bargain for both the employee and the employer because information technology reduces the work load, makes the work to be done as fast as possible hence, creating room for both the employee and the employer to have a balance between their work and family. An electronically improved working environment may include technologies such as cell phones, beepers and the e-mail to facilitate communication at work place (Landy, 2009). Therefore, the introduction of information technology in the working environment is a fair arrangement and is not considered to be ethically unbalanced. For instance, the time used to do a certain job could be reduced to few hours to do the similar job through technology availability. For example, e-mails could be used to send a message to person or to another organization rather than using postal offices, which consume a lot of time (Han, 2007). The potentially conflicting ethical dimensions of these and related issues is that, a person is forced to stay while his or her cell phone is on incase of an emergency, he or she will be  supposed to respond positively by attending to what the mail demands him to do.

Those who “have” access to information technology in the country are those with wealth, have a good educational background, and those whom the resources are readily available to them especially the city dweller. Poverty may be one of the problems in this case because information technology is too expensive and not everyone is in position to afford it. This therefore, implies that there are some people who can afford to have access to technology and to the web because they have enough resources in terms of finances. However, other factors such as geography of the region, culture, and educational background are also causing some people not to have access to technology and to the web. Thus, the digital divide is not just a marketing gimmick for selling computers in less developed countries, but it aims at allowing everyone in the society to have access to the technology (Mahapatra, 2005). However, it would be better if the government took an initiative of ensuring that information technology is supplied throughout the country and people are educated on how to use it. This will enhance people’s lifestyles and also improve the economy of the country at large.

 

 

 

References

Han, S. (2007). Essays on information technology and innovation processes: Exploring the effects of IT investments on R&D effectiveness and, Understanding the drivers of migration to services by IT product vendors. New York, NY: Cengage learning.

Landy, J. (2009). Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons.

Mahapatra, B. (2005). Information Technology and Education. Madhya, Marg: Sarup and Sons.

Mehdi, K. (2001). Managing information technology in a global economy. Southfield, MI: Idea Group Inc.

 

Pursuing an MBA is not just a thing to do with a mere paper because it is about quality and the ability of the paper to speak for you. This is why the choices of a university to pursue the course are very important. It involves looking at the curriculum offered, the previous works they have done and the relevance of whatever they have produced. The learning environment is also an important factor. All these together with other considerations are the main reasons being my decision to pursue my MBA at St Mary’s University.

Learning environment is a very important factor I put into consideration before rooting for St Mary’s as the preferred choice for pursuing my MBA. The University boasts of large and numerous facilities that are good for academic research. The numerous Libraries provided by the University will definitely work well for research work that I will mostly relay on. Operations mode of the University is quite conducive as it is more of electronic based. This would help me even in my busy schedule to work and at the same time learn as materials can easily be found online. The University’s internet portal provides an avenue through which I will be able to communicate directly with my lecturers on a personal level. The teleconferencing facilities makes it better for me to get learning materials that I would have otherwise missed if I was held up because of one reason or the other.

One of the major reasons I choose to join St Mary’s University for my Masters Degree is the previous products or graduates that the University has produced. As opposed to many other Universities, St Mary’s University is credited for producing a number of the best corporate managers in the United States, Canada and other parts of the world. This means that the quality of service provided by the University is not disputed. Just like these managers success and climbing on the managerial ladder, I do believe that after pursuing this degree, I would be able to develop career wise and move to higher managerial levels.

I have the determination of developing and growing career wise. This is only possible if I will be able to translate the theoretical materials obtained in class into practicals. Unlike many Universities that have too much theoretical tutoring taking place, St Mary’s Universities applies both theory and practical as part of their curriculum. This will enable me to be relevant even as I plan to grow in the business Management industry.

St Mary’s’ University is the best University I consider for my MBA as it incorporates numerous exchange programs in its curriculum. Through these exchange programs, I believe I would be able to gain more knowledge from other personalities in the business administration field. This would be important, as it will provide me with insights of how to deal with various challenges and situations at the managerial levels. Such a learning experience would provide numerous business environments and situations as opposed to limited examples in the classrooms.

St Mary’s University is the best place for me to pursue my MBA as far as tutorship is concerned. The University boasts of having long time experienced lecturers particularly in the business field. This is a great assurance to the quality of content delivered by the lecturers. This would have not been so if I had to join some other University with inexperienced lecturers. This would boost my career development, as my postgraduate degree would have higher value to employees as they respect and cherish the work done by the lecturers in this great University. I do believe that St Mary’s Universities would remain the best option for me to pursue my Master in Business Administration, as it will be a guarantee for my career progression.

Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction

Chapter One: The Addiction Cycle

According to Carnes, the sexual addiction cycle is a four-step cycle that the addict finds himself or herself trapped in. In this Chapter, Carnes uses the example of Del who was a husband, father and renowned lawyer but had a secret life where he was addicted to sex.

1. The addict’s behavior and choices result from a flawed belief system; addicts do not perceive themselves as being valuable.
2. The first stage of the addiction cycle is the preoccupation stage where sexual thoughts and fantasies fill the addict’s mind to the point where he decides to act on them.
3. The second stage is ritualization where the addict looks for an avenue to act out his sexual fantasies. This includes looking for pornographic material in porn shops or cruising for prostitutes.
4. In the third stage, compulsive sexual behavior, the addict engages in the actual sexual act.
5. The fourth stage is despair, where the addict feels ashamed due to his powerlessness over his addiction.

Chapter Two: The Levels of Addiction

This chapter discusses the stages of progression of sexual addiction. Carnes states that if left untreated, sexual addiction increases in severity and becomes harmful to both the addict and his partner(s) or victim(s).

1. There are three levels of sexual addiction. In level one, the individual’s sexual behavior is deemed acceptable or tolerable. The sexual acts in this level include going to strip clubs, watching or reading pornographic material and masturbating.
2. At level two, the individual’s sexual thoughts and urges are more intense and by acting on them, he may violate other people’s rights. This includes exhibitionism, voyeurism, indecent phone calls and touching people intimately without their consent.
3. Level 3 sexual behavior is illegal and includes rape, sexual relationship with minors and incest. The victim may be gravely harmed physically or psychologically by the addict’s sexual behavior.
4. Individuals of any gender, socioeconomic status and race together with personality type can become sex addicts.
5. In many cases, sex addicts also exhibit other compulsive behaviors such as overeating, alcoholism or workaholism.

Chapter 3: Cybersex and Addictive Behavior

This chapter discusses the role that cybersex plays in the perpetuation of sexual addiction. The author describes the internet as the ‘crack cocaine’ of sexual addiction because it accelerates the degree of addiction.

1. Cybersex addiction is perceived by addicts to be safer because it provides them with sexual stimulation without the risks that would be involved in the real world.
2. Cybersex addicts are usually in denial on the severity of their addiction because they believe that their actions they only engage in sex online and they can stop whenever they want.
3. Through cybersex, addicts are exposed to various other perverted sexual activities that they had not known or been interested in before and hence the level of addiction grows.
4. In some cases, cybersex addicts translate their sexual addiction into the real world, for instance by soliciting for sex from strangers and prostitutes.
5. The easy accessibility of cybersex may cause recovering sex addicts to relapse.

Chapter 4: The Family and the Addict’s World

This chapter discusses the role that the family plays in the sex addict’s life and the impact it has on his behavior. The author also discusses the effect of sexual addiction to the addict’s family.

1. In some families, sexual addiction is a hereditary condition spanning generations.
2. A sexual addict’s relationship with his family may deteriorate because sex addicts place their addiction above everything else as the addiction progresses.
3. Sexual addicts feel lonely and alienated since they are controlled by their sexual addiction. They are repulsed by the fact that they cannot overcome the addiction.
4. Most sexual addicts report that they had a troubled childhood where they may have been exposed to perversity or they did not receive adequate love and attention.
5. Sexual addicts usually have a poor self-image but may be able to cover it up from their family and friends.

Chapter 5: Co-addiction

The author defines co-addiction is the situation where the people close to the sex addict support the behavior whether directly or indirectly. Co-addicts play a significant role in the addict’s life and their co-dependence on the addict usually hinders recovery.

1. The co-addicts usually feel that they have to take up the responsibility of ensuring that the addict does not put himself in perilous situations or does not sink further into the addiction.
2. The addict’s partner may feel the need to meet the addict’s requests in order to fulfill their sexual desires and prevent them from seeking satisfaction from outside parties.
3. Co-addicts may also support the addict’s sexual addiction by making excuses for them to the public in order to shield them from humiliation.
4. The partner of a sex addict may also develop a sexual dysfunction or addiction due to frequent exposure and participation in the addict’s sexual acts.
5. The co-addict may impede the success of the sex addict’s recovery process because they protect the addict from any negative consequences of the addiction.

Chapter 6: The Belief System

This chapter illustrates the manner in which a sex addict’s negative and flawed core beliefs about himself and his environment affects his sexual behavior.

1. Most addicts usually have a negative self-image because of the perverse nature of their thoughts and actions.
2. Addicts view other people as untrustworthy and uncaring. They believe that if people knew about their sexual addiction they would regard them differently.
3. Addicts believe that sexual gratification is their most important need.
4. Sex addicts are usually in denial about the nature of their problem. They are often defensive of their behavior and blame any negative outcome on other factors.
5. As the addiction progresses the addict becomes delusional, makes excuses for his behavior and may begin to believe in his own lies. This is referred to as sincere delusion.

Chapter 7: Twelve Steps to Recovery

This chapter illustrates that the steps to recovery are the complete opposite of the addiction process. While sexual addiction involves alienation and isolation from the community, the recovery process requires the addict to reintegrate with the community.

1. Sexual addiction thrives in isolation and loneliness since the addict relies on the addiction for emotional fulfillment.
2. Most addicts live a double life and therefore are afraid to seek treatment for their sexual addiction due to fear of ridicule and misjudgment.
3. The twelve steps to recovery help the sex addict to overcome their double lives.
4. The first and most important step in the twelve steps to recovery is where the addict admits and confesses that he has a problem and is addicted to sex. This helps to overcome denial.
5. In the twelve steps to recovery method, the addict relies on a higher power to find a solution to his problem and eventual recovery.

Chapter 8: The Future is Conditional

The reforming sex addict must make a conscious effort to overcome his addiction and avoid relapsing. A recovered sex addict may quickly relapse if he does not detach himself from the addictive stimulus.

1. Relapse is most common in the initial stages of the recovery process where the addict may be unable to control his sexual thoughts or to avoid masturbation.
2. In order to avoid relapse, the recovering sex addict needs to maintain honesty and open communication between himself, his spouse and his sponsor.
3. The recovering addict must also learn to identify the factors that trigger sexual thoughts or impulses. He should then learn to avoid these factors or increase his control over them.
4. Relapse may also occur if the recovering addict does not replace the addiction with something else that helps him suppress the sexual urges.
5. The recovering addict must also learn to appreciate and take care of himself in order to develop a healthy self-esteem and avoid relapsing.

Wonhee Anne Joh, Heart of the Cross, Intro

When the word cross is mentioned in theology, most people view it as a place where there is suffering and sacrifice, as it was used in crucifying of Jesus. However, some critiques from a feministic view tend to differ by arguing that it was a sign of love. Joh argues that it is a place of love, and in an unexpected way, God and man are brought together by the cross. In postcolonial Christology, the cross is seen as working all together to bring reverence to danger of oppressive authorities. Joh uses the Jeong concept of Korea to come up with a theology that concentrates on love, politics, and one that is feministic, but at the same time, manages to appreciate the cross as a place of suffering.

In Korea, interpersonal relationships that develop feelings of caring, fondness, togetherness among the people are referred to as Jeong. It is an emotional feeling of relations among people, similar to love but with differences. While love should be between two people, a man and a woman, Jeong suggests relationships between individuals without laying emphasis on gender. Jeong suggests a strong bond that is not broken. It also means a bond towards something or an object that one feels attached to and they are bound to love it forever, and can die for it. In the practice of postcolonial Christology, Jeong is used to refer to the bond among people that cannot be broken. It is said to develop over time and once it develops, no matter what the circumstances are, it is not supposed to be broken.

On the other hand, Han is the feeling of resentment, or bitterness, where a person has strong feelings against injustice, hopelessness and a feeling of unsettled anger towards someone or something that makes one boil with range and have a feeling of wanting to seek vengeance, in order to make something that they feel is wrong into right. From the postcolonial Christology, this could mean the other side of the cross, which is suffering and pain. According to Joh, Jeong and Han go hand-in-hand, just as love and hate go hand-in-hand as opposite of each other. According to her, Jeong is empathy, solidarity, rationality and compassion, while Han is the feeling of a broken heart, an unusual emotional wound, world distress and personal disaffection. She compares the cross to these two concepts, where it plays a dissident effect, and at the same time puts relevance of the cross to the oppressive powers.

Han, in the Korean culture takes several forms, which are related, but efferent in cause or what brings it about. The first form of Han is the violation of Jeong. Considering that Jeong is loyal to the bond between people, for instance, a man and a wife, when this bond is violated, or betrayal occurs, one develops Han, which is the resentment feeling of helplessness and anger. The other form of Han occurs when disasters occur, whether natural or caused by man, where the people feel a loss. This is perceived in their emotions and it can lead to Han, where the people feel that they have been alienated by nature, or by those who cause the disaster and the anger creeps in and develops Han. The third form of Han is experienced at national level, where the people feel victimized and anger arises from such victimization, hence, resulting to Han. It is important to note that Han develops into Hwabyung, which is a condition that causes trauma, or one to develop medical conditions, that could lead to death.

Joh draws a relationship between Jeong and Han, where she implies that Jeong is the primary feeling of attachment to somebody, and Han only exists where Jeong exists, as it happens after the attachment or the bond between the people has been broken, where one is betrayed and feelings of anger arise. According to her, Jeong and Han are just two different sides from the same heart. She draws a relationship where she suggests that Jeong and Han exist as the two sides of the oppressed and the oppressor, while revealing the cross as a subversive power, in which our attachment can be questioned, and at the same time, it can transform these feelings. The relationship between the two is that they act as opposites of each other, and when Jeong, is violated, the other occurs.

 

The Right and Wrong in the Movie “The Core” and its Relationship to Geology

The movie “The Core” is a science fiction and disaster movie created in 2003. It is related to geology because it is concerned with the earth’s structure and the materials, which make the earth. The movie shows different scientists as they try to restart the earth’s outer core, which has stopped rotating. In order to restart the rotations, the scientists plan to drill through the earth’s crust so that they can set off the nuclear bombs, which will then restart the core’s rotation. In this movie, the directors tried to present accurate facts concerning the earth, but like in most science related movies, they did not take the initiative to research on all the geological and physical facts involved.

The earth’s interior surface is divided into three main spheres. The crust is thin and brittle, mantle, which forms the largest part of the earth’s volume, and the core, which is at the center of the earth and it forms 15% of the earth’s volume. The outer core is a liquid while the inner core is a solid. The movie also talks of the crust, which, at 1% is the thinnest sphere of the earth’s surface. These details are explained in the movie in a detailed way. It is correct that humans have drilled the crust for about ten miles. However, no one has been able to drill up to the mantle and no one knows what is to be expected. What many people are clear on is that there is an increase of pressure and temperature as one goes down the earth’s surface. In the movie, they estimate that they have to dig for at least two thousand miles before they reach the earth’s core. Pressure and heat increase as one digs deeper into the earth’s surface. The fluid core of the earth is always moving and it is driven by the extreme temperatures. The earth has a magnetic field, which is caused by the rotation of the outer core. In the movie, Professor Keyes takes the time to explain about the earth’s rotation, the magnetic field and the dynamo effect that is produced inside the earth.

The movie has many wrongs in it and the directors should have been more careful to conduct proper research. It is estimated that the heat beneath the earth’s surface is close to that of the sun. No device has of yet been invented which would be able to withstand such extreme temperatures. In the movie, they create some kind of space suits, which apparently allows them to withstand the extreme temperatures. They design a drilling craft, which drills into the surface of the earth and even penetrates the mantle. This is despite the fact that the mantle is the thickest of the three spheres and constitutes the largest volume of the earth’s interior surface. The liquid core has never stopped rotating as it has been depicted in the movie. The spinning core is not the only thing that causes the earth’s magnetic field. The outer liquid core has convection currents, which enable it to rotate, and they are responsible for the magnetic field.

In the movie, one of the actor scientists reveals that something made by a human has been the cause of the stuck rotation. It is quite impossible for this to have happened since in the first place, there is no one who has been able to go that far into the earth’s interior. The actors constantly refer to the earth as having an electromagnetic field instead of a magnetic field. One of the major wrongs that can be seen in the movie is the supposed element, which can be able to withstand the extreme heat and pressure. In the movie, they come up with an element called unobtainium, which is supposed to get stronger as more heat and pressure are applied to it. They use this element to build the ship, which will take them to the interior, and they build their spacesuits with it. This material, as they agree cannot be obtained. They have therefore failed to show how they acquire it and use it. In the movie, they show that the earth’s magnetic field would shut down within a year yet this is not true. Most scientists agree that it would take several hundred years for the magnetic field to shut down.

 

Edward Hopper: “Nighthawks”

Introduction

Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” is a painting that was done in the year 1942. Hopper was famous for his oil paintings but was also good as a water colorist. “Nighthawks” is considered as one of his famous works as well as the most recognized in America. Hopper began painting it after the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese that occurred on December 7 1941. There was a feeling of gloominess all over the country, which is clearly expressed in the artwork. It portrays people sited at a diner late at night. There are four people: two are a couple, the other sitted showing his back to the viewer is alone and the diner attendant. In the painting the street right outside the diner is empty and the people inside seem lonely and lost in their thoughts. Edward Hopper’s artwork is clearly figurative. He uses the term “Nighthawk” to portray someone who stays up late. The scene was inspired by a diner in Greenwich Village; his home neighborhood in Manhattan. The painting pays attention to the interior and human placement in accurate balance with the environment. The use of geometrical shapes, lines, texture and vibrant colors have made the masterpiece truly remarkable.

Lines

Lines in the painting are clearly shown, the light from the diner reflects onto the next building diagonally. The frames joining the diner mirrors are straight. The posts placed at the entrance of the other building are parallel. The corner of the diner and the edge of the roof is composed of a curve line. The stools are arranged in a line parallel to the triangle counter. The lines are correctly drawn as per the object described. However, it is the job of the architect to decide and communicate which attributes need to be emphasized in order to achieve the overarching mission of a solution.

Shapes

Several shapes are highlighted. They compose of circles, triangles and rectangles. The corner of the diner is curved: curved glass connecting the large stretch to the two sides. The stools inside the diner are round in shape. Again taking a closer look at the painting, there is no visible door to the diner detecting imprisonment. The counter also takes the shape of a triangle trapping the attendants within the counter area. Rectangles are used; the windows and doors of the nearby building are box in shape. The image placed on the counter of the building adjacent to the diner has an organic shape. The metallic vessels at the far end of the dinner have a cylindrical shape. Urban architecture was a major aspect in his work; he was fascinated by the American urban scene full of hideous beauty, fascinating roofs and delicate harmonies of fainted paint.

The effective use of light and shadow to create mood is also highlighted. The diners harsh light separates it from the dark night enhancing subtle emotion and mood. The light hides nothing, it reflects even onto the buildings across the streets. Part of the window overlaps the glass of the buildings on the left. Inside, the light reflects onto the metal tanks placed at the far right side of the diner, this brightens the scene and adds mood to the painting. His use of color has been compared to the cinematography of a few films. As he said “the vertical and diagonal bands of color and sharp electrical shadows create concise and intense drama in the night…Combining subject matter with a powerful arrangement, the composition is pure enough to approach an almost conceptual sensibility, yet layered with a poetic meaning for the observer.” The viewpoint is cinematic as if the viewer were approaching the restaurant.

 

Texture

Texture is the feel of the canvas. “Nighthawks” has a simulated texture because it appears real. The circular shaped diner and the triangle shaped counter have a simulated texture. The whole painting comes into sight as simulated; it looks as if it is a photograph. The people give the impression of being real and the location seems authentic. The feel of the drawing is smooth. The texture has not been added an artificial material but is portrayed as real. . The painter portrayed the modern urban life as empty, denying that he deliberate wanted to express it as such.

Colour

The diner interior is brilliant, made of brown cherry wood counters surrounded with stools expressing simplicity. At the base of the seamless glass, brilliant streaks of jade green tiles are placed three-quarter way. The color of the tiles is dull creating a boring mood in the restaurant. The counter fronts have no merchandise in them intensifying the general seediness of the scene. The color of the building across is brown. Edward’s “Nighthawks” work of art contrasts the sleek modern diner whose glass windows appear seamless and transparent with the 19^th century brick building beside the restaurant. The walls of the diner have a bright cream color that brightens the entire room, creating a warmer feel; in addition to the cream color is the yellow color also adding life to the artwork.

 

 

Conclusion

Human placement, There are four people in the diner; none seems vivacious, even the couple do not seem to communicate. Loneliness is clearly highlighted in the artwork though the counterman seems to be having a few words with the man facing him. The man showing us his back is sitted at the far end alone and lonely, he seems trapped in the triangle shaped counter. Again, there are large sitting spaces that are unoccupied. The items viewed in the diner- the coffee mugs, the saltshakers and napkin holders are poignant symbols of separation, they are placed at different locations. Secondly, there are no other customers even the passers by; no one is walking on the streets. Inside the diner, the temperature is understood as warm because no coats are evident; the woman is in a short-sleeved blouse. The storey across the street appears to have open windows. The people are also geometrically represented just like the architecture drawn in the painting.

. Hopper’s works clearly lacked the urban aspect; there was no presence of cars, passersby and other artifacts. The restaurant could have been any ordinary one; it was simply painted, it did not have an exception. The painter was most interested in letting the architectural concept convey his impressions. His desire to exteriorize his real nature was stronger than his personal control thus; he painted “Nighthawks” to express his loneliness. Edward Hopper was and still is a recognized painter worldwide. Many artists take after him; they have produced works that are similar to his, from films like “Pennies from Heaven” and the “End of Violence”. Paintings have also been produced. It has been widely referenced in the popular culture. Versions of the painting have appeared on t-shirts, greeting cards, on posters, advertisements and on comic books. Paintings are a form of communication; they convey messages that cannot be spoken. Edward Hopper’s painting was truly remarkable.

Rogerian Argument

Introduction

The theme of oppression culminating into a permanent impartation of liberation is jointly covered in Rich’s Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, Sexton’s Cinderella, Huxley’s Time and the Machine and Grimm’s Cinderella. Oppression has been a very significant topic in the world as traced from the early societies and spilling into the present as evidenced by the increased number of lobby factions and human rights towards the creation of an equitable global society marked with an optimal practice and sustenance of personal freedom. The topic therefore bears a high level of significance within the contemporary society in that it addresses various levels and aspects of oppression, both within the micro and macro perspectives, which most individuals tend to identify with and the best way that such can be overcome. Despite the oppression one may be facing within a given situation personal resolution to accord change within the covers the most significant role of freedom realization, with other players of factors constituting to a minor role.

Body A

Prior to this realization, I held the position that personal effort being limited by the individual aspect only managed a small proportion of effort that would be rendered as trivial within a broad setting. A number of individuals too share within the same view, as noted currently within the concepts of group dynamics that emphasizes on synergy towards the realization of noteworthy changes in a given situation. Sexton’s Cinderella bears this perspective as evidenced by the young girl’s plight. Cinderella’s mother faces her demise with the daughter being very young and therefore in need of protection. The dying mother talks to her daughter and promises to accord her help in all situations (Gwynn 1027). With the introduction of the stepmother and two stepsisters, the three women form an alliance in repressing Cinderella and she complies with the maltreatment due to her view that her personal opposition against the other three would be inconsequential.

Cinderella upon the escalation of the subjugation with the inclusion of her father finds refuge on her mother’s grave through the young dove. The dove provides everything that Cinderella needs and in this manner, she learns to cope with the tyranny. The ball scene amplifies this view after she succeeds in the assessment that is to offer her chance to the prince’s ball. Cinderella wins and is unable to attend her desired dance because of her stepmother. Grimm and Wilhelm’s Cinderella bearing a similar story line amplifies Sexton’s position by noting that the decision was a joint one made by her “step-mother…and…her two proud daughters” (3). The evil mother and her two daughters exhibit a high level of group work even in all their scheming strategies as majorly indicated in the toe and heel slashing plants to fit within Cinderella’s shoe. Cinderella on the other hand also relies on group work to accomplish her various challenges like the lentil and rice gathering assignment, and her dressing and undressing upon her attendance of the parties. Cinderella’s doves aid her in revealing the stepsisters and their mother’s evil scheme to the prince in duping their way into marriage.

Body B

However, most individual commonly tend to overrule the importance of personal efforts as a contributing factor even in group settings since lack of a single individual would lead to a notable impact, noted in direct terms within the groups and indirectly with regard to the setting. For instance, by reverting to the preceding examples, Cinderella’s freedom and help from the doves is based on her effort to acquire the hazel branch, planting and cultivation until its maturity in a manner that provides an abode to the birds that become her greatest helpers. The inference therefore accorded in the situation would be summarized by the conditional view that, had Cinderella not taken her private initiative in the tree planting, then the doves would lack a residing place and therefore look for alternative shelter in other areas. Consequently, Cinderella would have lacked the amount of help that the birds accord her. It therefore follows that, the individual effort although ranked as a small one tends to be a primary element in the overall synergy created in the whole group.

Rich succinctly discusses the importance of personal choices as the initial process of activating one’s liberation from subjugation in Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. The protagonist in this narrative creates an illusion within her natural setting to aid her with her oppressive marriage within the chauvinistic society she resides in. The imagery of the fearless tigers and “Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through the wool” (Khanna and Gangal 5) offers a precise depiction of the dominance attributed to the males and the fearful subjugation of the women. Perhaps due to violent tendencies exhibited by the men just like cruel nature of the tigers. The ring on Aunt Jennifer’s hand is described as heavy, being indicative of the repression she faces within her marriage. Sadly, the protagonist dies within her oppressed state due to her failure in enforcing her personal choice in initiating her liberation. Huxley bears the same perspective by focusing on the various single processes required to create a finished service or product. For instance, within the factory setting, the author focuses on the input of the artisan (Huxley 67).

Body C

Having outlined the two perspectives in the role of liberation in oppressive instances, it is evident that both standpoints have an inverse relationship with each being dependent on the other. Liberalization however is noted to begin with a personal initiative towards the attainment of freedom. For instance, in Aunt Jennifer’s case, had she been accorded outside help as in the case of Cinderella, the initiative though well intended would have failed unless she would admit her problem and the need for assistance. As the author notes, “the tigers in the panel that she made will go prancing, proud and unafraid” (Khanna and Gangal 11-12). This amplifies the frustration that secondary assistance is treated to in cases where individuals have tried to offer aid to people that have not reached the realization of their personal role in liberalization. Just like Aunt Jennifer, their oppressions persist in a strong manner as reflected even in death.

Secondary help takes a minor role in overcoming oppression based solely on private choice. Various disciplines like psychology, medicine, corrective faculties like prisons and rehabilitation centers revolve around the same argument. Oppression affects an individual’s decisions and broadly their freedom as noted in cases like drug addictions. However, unless the affected individual comes to an individual realization that they require help, the efforts of third parties would only be rendered as obsolete. Therefore, acceptance from the drug addict about their condition would serve as a primary role in the recovery process while the medical attendants would accord the secondary (complementary) aid towards the recovery process.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both personal and third party initiatives are necessary towards overcoming the issue of oppression but higher preference and weight should be placed on the former perspective as the main determinant within the liberation process. Even within the contemporary society, group settings accord a level of equity to every member in terms of idea presentations and contributions to create a healthy personal and overall group growth. However, group development cannot be realized without personal advancements.

 

Works Cited

Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Grimm’s Fairy Tales: Cinderella. 1812. Web. 27 April 2011. < http://www.pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/story012.pdf >.

Gwynn, R. Literature: a pocket anthology. Pearson/Longman, 2005. Print.

Huxley, Aldous. The olive tree. Harper & Brothers, 2009. Print.

Khanna, Kiran and Gangal, K. English Core. New Delhi: Rachna Sagar Pvt. Ltd.

 

Why do people collect art?

Many individuals assemble and exhibit impressive art designs from their lives. Sometimes individuals may present their collections to the museums for professional care and accessibility to everybody. People unlike museums have a limit on what can be collected. Their collections consist of past and present items that are determined by a certain feature. The collection may be of military items, manufactured articles of a certain locality, holiday souvenirs, precious stones, prehistoric remains, fossils and many others. Art has a way of rekindling and preserving memories making it preferred by people who are collectors.

First, some people may collect art for an investment while others for venture purposes. Art collections possess quality of increasing in value as time passes. The primary reason that may make people to purchase for art is due to enjoyment. They enjoy purchasing arts that will give them pleasure for the years to come. Unlike other things such as cars or clothes, art collections never corrode or become outdated. If one is purchasing art it is advisable to consider the aesthetic value attached and carried into the future.

Secondly, it is a chance to sharpen and expand individual’s horizons where individuals who collect art get an opportunity to increase their knowledge on art. As they acquire collection experience they develop a keener eye and better taste for artwork. This experience is gained through increased exposure to exhibitions and art collections where the collector’s participation is seen in seeking advice and asking questions about art: they end up sharpening their sphere on art.

Earning a living is an additional motivator for art collection.  Fine art can be bought then resold since it can hold value as an asset. The money earned from art collection helps individuals to purchase alternative things such as clothes, foods and even pay rent. Museums collect art because it is a source of revenue to the government. Through purchases, which one makes to art collections, it indicates one appreciates their good work.

People collect art additionally because of its aesthetic value. Some individuals may love to decorate their houses with fine arts. They give reasons that by loving art, it makes them express their tastes. One of the reasons of loving art is because they make their houses to appear better through decorations of art. There are some homes where people decorate their buildings using precious stones because they love the wall appearance resultant. They may up instilling that spirit to others who may be influenced to purchase art collections for their homes.

It gives an individual a chance to scrutinize many artworks. Collecting art helps an individual to keep his or her galleries open thus getting an opportunity to scrutinize many arts. Some commercial galleries have collections of art that attracts many people. They prosper depending on how great support they obtain from individuals. They provide good artwork thus make individuals to appreciate their art collections thus purchase for more art designs. Commercial galleries display many art collections thus, whenever people pass near, they get a chance to scrutinize a variety of art designs.

Lastly, some people may want to become art collectors. One cannot start purchasing for example, paintings from prominent painters and consider themselves as art collectors. Individuals start collecting art due to varied reasons and some do it without recognizing that they have colleted art. The important thing that individuals who what to become art collector do is that they go to museums and observe art collections. They eventually get motivated due to varieties of artwork in the museums thus end up becoming art collectors.