Octavia Butlers Kindred Essay -- Slavery Education Slaves Kindred Ess

Octavia Butler's Kindred Throughout the novel Kindred, Butler compared and contrasted modern African Americans with African Americans that were slaves in the novel. Some of the many ways she compares them are through education, work ethic, and their personal feelings about and/or how they handle their own slavery. Education is very important to the blacks that were enslaved in the novel. The slaves valued education even more than the modern African Americans like Dana who had always thought they had very high standards on education. The slaves valued education so much because to them it was not only a tool to better themselves, but also a very powerful tool that could potentially lead them to freedom. With the ability to read and write the slaves could write themselves ...

Manhood and Misogyny in “Death of a Salesman”

An important aspect of Miller's â€Å"Death of   a Salesman† is the play's denouement — which is commonly accepted as being the moment that Loman commits suicide, and in doing so, hopes to provide his son, Biff, â€Å"with insurance money for a fresh start† (Phelps 239).This ending is commonly construed to represent a pyric victory   on Loman's behalf because it implies that he has — in the end — acted out of love for his family.However, as H.C. Phelps points out in his very astute article â€Å"Miller's Death of a Salesman† (1995) the emotional climax of the play is not at the moment of Loman's actual death, but earlier when Loman â€Å"makes his final, irrevocable decision after the play has reached its undoubted emotional climax, Biff's dramatic declaration to his father† (Phelps 239) which is essentially a confession of his self-perceived worthlessness.The play's emotional climax, viewed in one way, seems to offer closure which hints at possible happiness, even in suicide, even in death — but according to Phelps' explication, the true resonance of Loman's suicide and death is not heroic but only tragic and ironic.In â€Å"Death of a Salesman,† the theme of happiness or completeness of life is central to the play's dramatic impact. The play explores how the lives of a man and his sons are connected through contemporary ideas of manhood and family. In the play, many aspects of masculinity are presented in a way that promotes irony.Part of the identification with manhood which exists for the male characters in the play is steeped in misogyny or in the objectification of women. This misogyny is important to the overall theme of family and manhood in the play because it shows, through irony, that the diminishment of womens' experience and labor by men contributed to the fragmentation of the family.Part of this fragmentation includes the degradation or de-evolution of male-bonding and particularly the bonding between a father and his sons.   As Phelps points out in his brief but penetratingly able essay, the perceived closure of the play's end is really better perceived as ironic and as a natural extension of the play's essentially fragmented and misogynistic presentation of American social realities.A good example of this fragmentation is the character of Linda who is presented in the play as being both subservient to her husband, Willy, and held in low esteem by her own sons.While the overt dramatic impact of this arrangement of characters might seem to suggest only the cold detachment of the modern male or the inability of the modern male to overcome chauvinism against women, a careful reading of play reveals that this disconnect between the male characters of the play and the character of Linda is symbolic of the incompleteness of modern male experience.In fact, the main sense of distress for   the Loman family comes not from poverty or emotional barriers, but merely from Loman's absence from his domestic sphere. This absence is symbolic of the western, primarily American, male experience.When Linda implores Willy to â€Å"Talk to them again. there's no reason why you can't work in New York† (Miller) she is imploring that Willy take more of an interest in his familial than professional life.   This familial perception of male-responsibility is a crucial aspect of Loman's suicide because it is â€Å"primarily due to their insistence on Biff's love for his father, not to any explicit comment by his son, that Willy decides to take his own life† (Phelps 239).However, as Phelps points out, â€Å"Linda and Happy are repeatedly shown to be among the most deluded, obtuse, and mendacious characters in the play† (Phelps 239) so their assurances to Willie that Biff loved him are, for the alert reader, according to Phelps, mere lies which are rooted in misogyny and fragmentation of relationships.Later in the play, Willy's involvement with â€Å"the Woman† shows clearly that the misogynistic aspects of masculinity as represented by Miller extend not only to the domestic and familial spheres, but to the erotic and sexual spheres. When The Woman asks Willy â€Å"Whyn't you have another drink, honey, and stop being so damn self-centered?† (Miller) Loman's reply is â€Å"I'm so lonely† (Miller) and the deeper meaning of his answer lies in the fact that his very misogynistic attitude has cut him off from feminine love or even feminine erotic response.Because Loman is unable to relate to his wife's need for his patriarchal presence in his own home and also unable to relate to The woman's need for erotic stimulation   and celebration, Loman is in fact cut off from the primary energy-sources of true manhood: fatherhood, husbandry, and Eros. The impediment to Loman's happiness is not actually poverty but misplaced male-identity and misogyny.Loman's discord with femininity is reflected also in the b ehavior of his sons who recklessly abuse women and conduct themselves as womanizers. Similarly, when Biff and Happy talk about Betsy they â€Å"they refer to [her] as a pig [†¦] and a pig suggests â€Å"pigskin,† the material that footballs were traditionally made of, and compares their relationship with Betsy to sport† (Ardolino).Because the misogyny of Loman's sons is manifested primarily through their sexual response and sexual behaviors, the thematic impact of their relationships with women as represented in the play seems to suggest that the corruption of Eros is the first casualty of misogyny and that the deterioration of the family and finally of manhood and the self follow quickly thereafter.The corruption of Eros is a symbol and symptom of the degeneration of family values which has taken place under the predominantly materialistic society which is represented in â€Å"Death of a Salesman;† however, the sexual function is merely a preliminary casua lty of the malaise and â€Å"soul derangement† which Miller perceives in the society which he is endeavoring to dramatize in the play.Closely associated with erotic love is †¦ love itself, and even this emotion is so tainted by mendacity, by corruption, and by atrophy within the social microcosm of the play, that the absence of true love is what actually drives the play's climax: not reconciliation or closure, but tragic despair and loneliness.   Biff's final words to his father are â€Å"I'll go in the morning.Put him—put him to bed† (Miller) and as Phelps points out, these words are â€Å"a tepid and ambiguous expression of concern† (Phelps 239) adn reveal, not love, but the absence of love which is, in fact,the true motivation for Loman's suicide.The key aspect of the lack-of-love interpretation is to realize that it is a misogynistically determined outcome: a symptom of a male-ordered social-universe which has sacrificed essential elements of h uman survival, like love, to the more expedient materialistic concerns of the moment.In conclusion, while the interplay between men and women in Death of a Salesman seems at surface level stylized almost to the point of cliche, penetrating and revealing themes emerge from a careful reading of the gender-based themes of the play.Primary among these is the idea of corruption of male authority and male energy by the disconnect from erotic love and finally a misogynistic bearing toward women in general. To put it in simplistic terms, the play is trying to show that turning away from the nurturing energy and experience of what is usually called â€Å"feminine† in American society has corrupted American society's sense of manhood and allowed the disintegration of the family to follow.The key to retrieving the balance of family lies not in riches or material success but in finding harmony between the masculine and feminine natures which are the focal energies of all families.Phelps' article, while eschewing lengthy examinations of gender-based, or socially based explications, does manage to uncover, according purely to the characterizations of the play itself, a continuity of expression which inverts the commonly associated emotional resonance of the play's close and offers and incisive and very ably expressed interpretation of the play's climax which seems to me much more faithful to the overall tone of the play as Miller intended it to be experienced.Works CitedMiller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. Penguin Books, 1976.Ardolino, Frank. â€Å"Like Father, like Sons: Miller's Negative Use of Sports Imagery in Death of aSalesman.† Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 25.1-2 (2004): 32+.Phelps, H. C. â€Å"Miller's Death of a Salesman.† Explicator 53.4 (1995): 239-240.Rosefeldt, Paul. The Absent Father in Modern Drama. New York: Peter Lang, 1996.

Ventria Bioscience and the Controversy over Plant-Made Medicines

Case Study: â€Å"Ventria Bioscience and the Controversy over Plant – Made Medicines† GB590 Corporate Social Responsibility Prof. Timothy Loney By Willette Marchany Rivera February 22, 2011 Introduction: Case overview Ventria Bioscience, a biotechnology firm based in California, faces the challenge of commercializing a product with potential and considerable public health benefits. Ventria had developed a ground-breaking technology using genetically modified (GM) rice to grow the proteins lactoferrin and lysozyme, both found in human breast milk, which can be used for the treatment of diarrhea in children, tourists and the military. Lawrence and Weber, 2010, p. 494) However, the pioneer biotechnology invention has to go through regulatory processes and stakeholder’s scrutiny, before it can enter the market. There are ethical concerns over the plant-based medicines and opposition coming from consumer advocates, environmentalists, rice farmers and food safety activ ists. Ventria needs to overcome the regulatory environment and manage its stakeholder relations in order to succeed and release this product for sale. In order to do so they must establish a strategic plan to improve their triple bottom line performance.They need to convince stakeholders that the potential benefits are desirable and that they can safely and responsibly deliver the product to be commercialized. Even then, Ventria and the biotechnology industry might always face opposition from groups against genetically modified organisms in which human genes are also manipulated. â€Å"The public’s reactions to plant- made pharmaceuticals were likely to be extreme, given the high benefits, potential risks, and deep moral quandaries posed by these new technologies. † (Lawrence & Weber, 2010, p. 92) Financial goal Ventria’s financial goal is to make profit from producing in a big scale the GM rice they developed and selling it at an affordable price. The plant-mad e pharmaceutical concept was created in order to take advantage of the capability of harvesting the proteins in a natural host instead of using a costly laboratory environment where manufacturing would be slower and in a smaller scale. Ventria’s financial goal seems to be intertwined to the capability of producing the GM rice outdoors over a large amount of land.Environmentalists and rice farmers are highly concerned with the possibility of comingling happening and the adverse impact on the ecosystem this could have. Other than that, the Union of Concerned Scientists, a policy advocacy group, warned that it is unwise to produce drugs in plants outdoors, because there would be little control over the doses people might get exposed to, and some might be allergic to the proteins. (Grace, 2011, para. 24-25) Environmentalists are concerned too about Ventria using acres of arable land to harvest medicine instead. (Grace, 2011, para. 0) Social goal Ventria’s social goal shoul d be to contribute to the treatment of diarrhea in children, the military and tourists at an affordable price with their innovative plant-made pharmaceutical without damaging society. In order to do so, they shall get the local and global public to trust the biotechnology industry and plant-made pharmaceuticals. They also need to assure that the product or its production will not harm or negatively affect human lives. The GM rice cannot get mixed with or contact in any way crops designated for human food supply.At the same time, consumers need to be informed honestly about the content of the products and that they are GM. Otherwise, customers would be deceived. There are ethical concerns about the use of human genes in this GM rice and consumer rights to be informed should be placed first. Food safety is also an issue as this GM rice remains to be widely tested in humans and be approved by the FDA. The company also needs to become liable in case the GM rice contaminates other rice f armers’ crops and contaminated products are sent to the human food supply.Environmental goal Ventria’s environmental goal would be to produce the GM rice without contaminating the environment or throwing off the natural balance, that is, without disturbing the ecosystem. They cannot allow comingling to happen. Also, they need to avoid and control the risks of any adverse impact of the GM rice to the ecosystem by taking measures to avoid potential harms to the wildlife and the spreading of the GM rice crops that could lead to undesirable hybrids.Summary: Triple bottom line performance and strategic recommendations After considering all the financial, social and environmental factors that adversely affect their performance, Ventria is in position of making a strategic decision. They should consider first to modify or radically change their production strategy and second to enter in a marketing process focused in educating the public about their product. These strategies can help them achieve their three bottom-line goals. They need to provide a safer way of producing their product and obtain the permits and the approval to sell it.Their financial, social and environmental goals can only be attained by focusing in resolving the issues with their stakeholders. There are two recommendations on how to change their current production strategy. They can search for an isolated area of arable land away from other rice farmers and set stringent measures of control to avoid the risk of contaminating other crops. However, controlling all the risk factors in an open crop field would be complicated and it is uncertain to which degree it could be accomplished.Another option would be to consider production in greenhouses. This would be probably more costly, but will ensure a higher degree of control. Finally, Ventria would have to ensure the safety of their product and take on an honest advertising campaign to disseminate doubts and concerns about their invention . Likely, there will be opposition based on the ethical concerns about GM. However, public campaigns that provide straight forward and clear information from the developers will give customers more tools to make an informed decision about the product.References Grace. (2011, February 2). Genetically modified rice now on its way to fields in several  countries. Nwoandsecretsocieties. WordPress. com. Retrieved February 24, 2011 from http://nwoandsecretsocieties. wordpress. com/2011/02/02/genetically-modified-rice-now-on-its-way-to-fields-in-several-countries/ Lawrence, A. T. (2010). Ventria Bioscience and the Controversy over Plant- Made Medicines. In Lawrence, A. T. , Weber J. , Business and Society: Stakeholders, Ethics,

Sumerian and Early Byzantine Christian Cultures †Art History Essay

Sumerian and Early Byzantine Christian Cultures – Art History Essay Free Online Research Papers Sumerian and Early Byzantine Christian Cultures Art History Essay The need for religious spaces and devotions has existed through many cultures, especially the Sumerian and Early Byzantine Christian cultures. The White Ziggurat Temple, built in 3000 BC by the Sumerians in the Mesopotamian regions used the top cella as a place to worship and the Early Christians, more than 3000 years later in Constantinople (Istanbul) created Saint Peters in 400 AD. Both these two buildings contributed to the religious and cultural advancement of these two different societies. The White Ziggurat contained a cella with an alter at the top that was used by the local leader to pray to their gods. The White Temple was large in magnitude. The effort put into the building of the mud-brick temple show a society putting their beliefs in their ziggurat. The orientation of the Sumerian White Ziggurat was faced toward the east, as was the Early Christian Church: Old Saint Peters. This orientation is shared in many other cultures as the sun rising brings reminisce of a new beginning. The Early Christian Church, Saint Old Peters is also used for prayer, but rather prayer toward the Christian Trinity. Old Saint Peters also shares a central cella with an alter, just as the White Ziggurat Temple had. The size was large in magnitude, but the longitudinal church was shaped to escape pagan beliefs. The White Ziggurat, unlike Old Saint Peters allowed more than just the local leader, but let in the people of Constantinople. In summary, the two structures contributed to religious advancement, cultural advancement, and shared the purpose of holding the structures sacred. Research Papers on Sumerian and Early Byzantine Christian Cultures - Art History EssayWhere Wild and West MeetCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoCapital PunishmentThe Spring and AutumnRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Hockey GameThree Concepts of Psychodynamic

What is the basic organization of the profile Essay

What is the basic organization of the profile - Essay Example One of the places the in e profile where the interview is used is when Davis student, Dave and Louis interview Dan about his feelings: â€Å"how are you feeling Camp? The Dan replies, â€Å"I’ am great, John. No cramping here!† Laughter broke out behind the camera.Another instance of the interview is when Dan’s friend, Miranda asked him, â€Å"you know what you should do with all these paperclips Dan when this is all done?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"What?†Ã¢â‚¬Å"You should†¦you fill up a swimming pool and jump in!†Ã¢â‚¬Å"What a weird, non-sequitur thing to say, Miranda,† Dan replied laughing. When writing about one’s profile you need to engage him in a discourse and to talk about his character. For example, the current record was set in 2000and stands at 895 yards or just shies of nine football fields. Another example given here is, is a good-natured man, bright and energetic young man willing to go all out for an ultimately meaningless goal. Yo u need to draw one after he has illustrated his profile to you when writing a profile. One of the examples given here is â€Å" As the crew walked slowly down the road, Dan had to continually order halts to fix broken links as well as tangles and snags† secondly, â€Å" All of a sudden Aston went into broadcast mode†¦Ã¢â‚¬  lastly, â€Å"Meyers' fingers were racing like an intricate machine† In order to get background information about whomever you are writing his profile, you can carry out a visitor you may decide to be a secret or silent observer. One may also decide to carry out an interview with the person so as to get the first-hand information.

How a second grade Special Ed inclusion class will benefit the Trotter Research Proposal

How a second grade Special Ed inclusion class will benefit the Trotter School in Dorchester, Ma - Research Proposal Example The integration of the varied categories within the school setting varies some choosing partial inclusion while others are pursuing full inclusion practice. Either of the inclusion subsystems, it is notable the entire essence and role of inclusion in facilitating equal education opportunities for the people of the nation. The concept of inclusion remains a somewhat vague as many do not understand what inclusion means and entails. The subject of mainstreaming also arises as the public strives to understand the issues with the current education and the need for the changes to incorporate inclusion. The historical development of the subject began with â€Å"progressive inclusion† to define the process of the evolution of services for the disabled people. Initially, as the United States emerged as a national, the educational services did not factor the people with disabilities. In the early 800s, the residential institutions and asylums began to facilitate and accommodate those with hearing, mental, emotional or visual impairments (Smith 32). The options facilitated for the primary source of education for the disabled until the 900s when the unit for special day schools for the disabled came into fashion. The 950s and 1960s marked the organized movement from the parents of children with disabiliti es in pressuring the courts and legislature for changes in the education services for their children (Smith 38). Following the act describing education for all handicapped children, the disabled children had the basis to mandate them to access appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible. This least restrictive environment is what inclusion seeks to establish for the children with disabilities as they pursue their life endeavors. It is difficult to establish the status of educational placement for the students with disabilities. However, according