Connies World - 1092 Words

Joyce Carol Oates began her short story, â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,† with a 15 year old girl named Connie whose mother that had always compared her to her sister June. This gave the reader a chance to establish a connection with Connie. Since almost every teenager has felt a comparison to another sibling at least once in their life, unless they were an only child, but then they were probably compared to family friend’s child. Her mother would say things like â€Å"Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister?† or â€Å"How’ve you got your hair fixed – what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk† (Oates, 1). Perhaps this is the reason that Connie has created a fantasy against the reality of the†¦show more content†¦Evidently, she has begun to question herself on what is real or not. This subconsciously starts to change Arnold’s world into reality and her own as fantasy. When Arnold first appeared at the door, Connie responded with a blunt and clear-cut â€Å"Who the hell do you think you are?†; compared to now where responses muddled and unsure like â€Å"I don’t know† or â€Å"things† (Oates, 4). As the conversation progressed, she uncomfortably backed farther and farther away into the kitchen, but the space of the room also lost familiarity as interior worlds broke down (Rubin, 69). To Connie, the next few scenes have become a turning point; a point where her childlike innocence has been taken and she is left vulnerable with an emptiness. With that vulnerability, Arnold is now able to say â€Å"you’re better than them because not a one of them would have done this for you,† which creates a greater impact now than if he said it when he first appeared at Connie’s door. At this time, Connie moves toward Arnold, not because he has gotten into her thoughts but because Connie believes th is is the only way to escape. Teenagers are often compared to others, either through academics or athletics, and some end up rebelling against their parents. Teenagers tend to act, dress, speak, and do everything else differently around different groups of people, especially family members and parents. Teenagers are also pushed towards music, which creates an escapeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been 1148 Words   |  5 Pagessexuality, listening to music and daydreaming her ideas into fantasies. Connie’s major dilemma in the story is Arnold Friend, which we will explore later. The importance’s of the music in this short story is pronounce, because I feel that music sets the mood for important events, that Connie deals with. The premise that flows through this story is that music is connected to the real world and weaves through Connie s dream world. Connie is very much like many teenagers in our society today. ConnieRead MoreCommentary on Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy846 Words   |  4 PagesA New World Is Possible Every generation has had a sub-culture within it that has suffered from feeling alienated by the cultural status quos. From the beat generation of the late 40s, the counter-culture of the 60s, to the Occupy Wall Street movement of today, the challenging of ideas, ethics and traditions has always been relevant. Many writers and novels have been popularized for exploring utopian ideas (such as Aldous Huxley’s The Island) and dystopian possibilities (as in George Orwell’s 1984)Read MoreWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been And Brave New Men Character Analysis1084 Words   |  5 PagesThe women of society are succumbing to the control of men around them. Many women know of the control men have over their lives while some are not aware of this power men have over women. In Brave New World, a novel by Aldous Huxley, and â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Oates, the two authors create situations in which men control, manipulate, and suppress women, whether it be physical or psychological. The men of both works catch women at their most vulnerable states. This mayRead More Reality is Like A Dream in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates1520 Words   |  7 PagesFrom theories about dreams, theories about subconscious thought, and the clues that Oates provides, the reader is lead to believe that Connie’s experience with Arnold Friend is a nightmare used to awaken her to the consequences that her behavior could result in. Have you ever experienced a dream or a nightmare that seemed like reality? Most people in the world today would say that they have. Although this realistic dream experience does not occur often, when it does, clear distinctions are hardRead More Themes Discussed in Joyce Oates Where Are You Going , Where Have You Been1551 Words   |  7 Pagesout of life. One finds themselves frustrated and confused in this particular stage. They are mid way between a bridge. They have left childhood but have not yet reached adulthood. They struggle to find some sense of being and individuality in the world. They are on a quest to find themselves, and in search of a path that will lead them to future happiness. â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,† is a short story written by Joyce Oates .In her short story Oates shows how easily susceptible oneRead More Women on the Edge of Time Essay1519 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel that illustrates some problems of today’s society and compares them to a possible future time. The other world that is presented in the book is called Mattapoisett. Mattapoisett is described as an utopian science fiction place because is much different from the place that Connie lived. Even thought Mattapoisett might be the world that Connie’s culture needed it is not a perfect world. Some of the problems that Marge Piercy presents in the book are poverty, women’s role, and problems of governmentRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1733 Words   |  7 PagesFeeling trapped in her own home with her own family, Connie, a self-conscious and rebellious teenager, tries to figure out a way to identify herself with the world around her. Her desire of escaping the reality fuels her struggle to enter adulthood. Through the physical form of Arnold Friend, who embodies both the hope and the despair in Connie’s struggle, the author metaphorically portrays a vigorous and psychological pressure that Connie has to endure. The story is scripted to allude to the dangerRead MoreFamily Matters : Joyce Oates s Story About A Young Girl Being Stalked1060 Words   |  5 Pagesenvironment. It emphasizes how important your home life really is. In this narrative, the way fifteen-year-old Connie’s family treated her played a large part in her kidnapping. Family dynamics are crucial to any story. They shape a character s life and make them into who they are. A family is supposed to guide children through life, not leave them to figure it out themselves. Unfortunately, Connie’s chose to do the latter. Her family was not present enough to teach her right from wrong. Seeing as theRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1135 Words   |  5 Pagesreality, and loss of innocence. Connie is constantly aiming to prove her maturity and independence to the world around her, leading to the turn of events that culminates into her kidnapping. In the beginning of the short story, the narrator describes Connie’s repulsion of her dependence on adults. Connie has to rely on adults for everything, driving her need for independence. Whenever Connie’s mother would ask Connie to be responsible, â€Å"Connie would raise her eyebrows at these familiar old complaintsRead MoreComing Of Age : A Comparative Analysis Of `` Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?870 Words   |  4 PagesCure† by Alice Munro share the common theme of â€Å"Coming of Age†, which depicts a maturation of the character/s going from a child to an adult. In both short stories, the female protagonist has a defining experience that changes the way they view the world or themselves. While both of these stories share the common theme of coming of age, both of them explore this theme in very different ways. Coming of age as a story theme illustrates a character’s growth and maturity as they transition from child to

Personal Statement Personal Development - 777 Words

Personal Development refers to accomplishments that improve self-knowledge and foster talents and potential, form employability, boost quality of life and contribute to the fulfillment of desires and dreams. Personal development is not limited to self-development but also embraces actions for developing others. As personal development takes place in the context of societies, it refers to the tools, techniques, and assessment methods that support human development at the individual level in organizations. Reflective leadership is a way of approaching the work of being a leader by leading one s life with presence and personal mastery. Without self-awareness, I cannot understand my strengths and weakness. Sometimes, leaders greatest strengths may become their greatest liabilities. Their personal characteristics and behavior forms may adversely influence how others perceive them. Reflective Leaders are sometimes considered reserved or even indifferent which results in feeling undervalued , misunderstood, ignored, and not acknowledged for their contributions. To maximize my most valuable asset and to be a more impactful leader in my future career, I need to make a positive impact and be a role model for others through understanding of my core values and blind spots of my personality or what I call them my strength and weaknesses. Knowing my personal strengths can also aid a lot in picking the right career or making good decisions in my future career. The simple fact is that if IShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : Personal Professional Development1250 Words   |  5 Pages) Personal Statement Personal professional development is important process these days because it enables people to become more aware of their own skills, knowledge and behaviors . This in turn is necessary for the self-improvement which is crucial to people in order to for example getting promoted at work as the market becomes more competitive . Back in College, during my HND in Business Course one of the subjects was Personal Development. Now I know that without this experience I would not be ableRead MorePersonal Statement : Personal Development Plan897 Words   |  4 Pagesmy new personal quote to live by after the OL 125 course. There were plenty of challenges during this term for me but, I didn’t give up. I ve learned so much about myself and have decided to make major changes due to the assessments and the knowledge gained from the chapters in â€Å"Human Relations in the Organization† book. From a previous course, I knew making a plan would be fundamental but never did put it on pa per until now. I truly appreciate having to complete a â€Å"Personal Development Plan† becauseRead MorePersonal Statement For Employee Development Essay783 Words   |  4 Pagesorganization’s guidelines for employee development, which included flexible work schedules. By doing this, the supervisor refused to consider the other employee’s need for work-life balance. The department staff did not receive the loss of flexible work arrangements well. The young woman was the first to leave, but within six months, several employees found employment elsewhere. Many employers have enacted policies and strategies to encourage employees to balance their personal and professional responsibilitiesRead MorePersonal Statement On Child Development1373 Words   |  6 PagesMichelle Seiler 12/8/14 CD #2 Philosophy on Child Development 1) Why you have chosen to be in the field. Children in this field can develop a positive self-esteem, foster a love of learning, and develop important social skills. I choice the field of child development because preschool age children are eager to learn and a joy to teach. I enjoy creating developmentally appropriate activities for children. They enjoy a variety of activities and need to be guided through play. The qualitiesRead MorePersonal Statement : Professional Development1980 Words   |  8 PagesAlthough my professional development started as a different career in Special Education the two careers’ professional development is similar in terms of dispositions and some skills as well. The dispositions would include social responsibility, work ethic, and reflective practices. Similar skills are collaboration, research and evaluation, and assessment. Hence, my professional development is a lifelong process that took some twist and turns. My professional development start with me pursuing a careerRead MorePersonal Statement : Child Development Essay1912 Words   |  8 PagesJackie Dennard, Child Development 1, Issue paper Issue Paper : Child Abuse I was just done talking over the phone with my beloved mother whose back in my home country, the Philippines. We talked about stories when us, her children were young and we happened to touch on the topic how she and my dad had to take care of five more children, who are my cousins aside from their already twelve biological children because their parents, abused, neglect and eventually abandoned them. So then IRead MorePersonal Statement : Leadership Development Plan1158 Words   |  5 Pages Frank Parise Leadership Development Plan Paper Week 7 Professor Kelley-Rodriquez 6/17/2015 Table of Contents Abstract Summary to Personal Mission Statement My leadership for the future follows a very distinctive path. As I have worked with multiple organizations and companies, I still have a long way to go for more knowledge and experience in leadership. Leaders always need to train and adjust their skills to the ongoing evolution of economics. I seeRead MorePersonal Statement : My Development Plan924 Words   |  4 PagesIn my development plan, I will first discuss my strengths and my growth areas. The feedback I have received from others is that I treat others with respect. I do not talk down to others but treat them as equals. Something else people tell me is that I work hard. Once I understand a task, I learn to get better at it. From there I produce a quality output. My growth areas consist of networking, communication, attention to details, listening, and relationship management. I know the basics ofRead MorePersonal Statement : Organizational Development Practitioner1684 Words   |  7 PagesIntro: Overview: Organizational development practitioner Rick Buccheri discussed his experiences of conflict management in several organizations. Primarily, his discourse was about the United Parcel Service and the Transportation Security Administration. He outlined his working theory that institutions should encourage â€Å"conflict engagement.† This is where individuals, groups, and systems would identify underlying conflicts that have yet to be expressed. Bucherri says good conflict engagement forRead MorePersonal Statement : Leadership Development Plan1748 Words   |  7 PagesWritten Leadership Development Plan During the last six weeks, I have learned a lot about the true meaning of a good leader. The discussions have helped me identify what my strengths are and what are the areas that I need to improve on. Although, I have been in management roles, I would not identify myself yet as a leader. I am a very result driven individual which is strength of mine, but that can also lead me to be desensitized to other’s emotions or challenges they might be facing. Throughout

Leadership Journal Emotional and Physical Energy

Question: Discuss about theLeadership Journal for Emotional and Physical Energy. Answer: Introduction Leader is the one who selects, equips, trains, and influences a team or followers who have different abilities and skills. A leader helps the followers to focus on tasks that help in accomplishing the organizations mission and objectives making the follower expend spiritual, emotional, and physical energy be himself in an effort to achieve the organizational goals (Winston, 2006). There are several styles of leadership. Each leader may vary in their approach and may have their own style when dealing with a situation. This is the leaders way of providing direction, executing a plan and motivating others (Du, 2013). Several leadership style have been recognized over the years. The most commonly known styles are authoritarian where the leader command has to be followed and the leader is more of a dictator (Gonos, 2013), paternalistic is where the leader acts more like a father figure and acts like a family to the follower by being completely concerned and invested in the followers interest, democratic where the leader shares the decision making with the team, listens to them and promotes majoritys interest, laissez-faire as known as hands free leadership where all the rights and powers are given to the followers and the leader acts more as a guide or a mediator, transactional leadership where motivation of the team is through awards or punishments and transfor mational where the leader aims to transform his followers by challenging and inspiring his team. Each of this style is witnessed in the world today and each of it has its own attributes (Renko, 2015). Authoritative leaders are more of commanders. They make sure that the relationship between the leader and the follower is clear and communication in most of these kinds of leadership is one directional (Hogg, 2013). The leader says and the followers follow. An authoritative leader should be able to stand by himself and be able to have a sense of control over his team. It is not always necessary that the followers actual believe in the vision of the leader but are simple lead by the leader through sheer force (Ertureten, 2013). Though this kind of leadership may seem a bit harsh it is the most commonly known form. From Hitler, the dictator to the school teacher who punishes for taking in the class, authoritative leadership is well known. Authoritative leadership can be clearly witnessed in the aviation industry. For example, an aircraft is usually under the control of the Captain who is assisted by a Co-pilot. However, once in a steady state the captain lets the co-pilot take up the responsibility of flying the aircraft while the captain acts as an instructor or a safety pilot. This exercise is done to help the co-pilot understand how it feels to fly in a real life scenario and out of a simulator. This also gives the co-pilot a chance to understand the responsibility of flying an aircraft. It is more of a raining exercise which is done under the captains instruction. However, there is very little tolerance between the captains command and the co-pilots execution. If the captain has a doubt regarding the co-pilots execution, the captain would immediately take charge. There is no arguing or going back on this command. Though the co-pilot is given the responsibility, he is still liable to what the captain says and how h e wants it to be executed. Authoritative leadership is often witnessed in military setup where it is crucial to follow commands. However, there are leaders who have come out the armed forces and have transformed there leadership into a charismatic form. The best example is Air Vice Marshal Mark Alan Skidmore, the current director of aviation safety at the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Australia. A senior officer of the Royal Australian Air Force, Skidmore has taken up several responsibilities on field throughout his tenure. Though he has been a part of Australia air force where an authoritative leadership is commonly found, Skidmore has turned into a transformational leader. According to Skidmore himself the Air force had made him a humble man. With abundant experience and Member of the Order of Australia Skidmore is an inspiration for those who work in the aviation industry. He transforms his team through sharing the knowledge he has gained over years. Skidmore is said to have o verhauled the organization structure at CASA to make it robust. There is no one form of leadership that can be declared as the best. For a person to be an efficient leader one should have the ability to adapt according to the situation. According to the situational leadership theory developed by Dr. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard, popularly known as Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership Theory, every situation cannot be dealt in the same way since the attributes of every situation is different (Hersey, 2014). It takes into consideration the concept of contingency thinking. Also, note that through situational leadership one can actually identify how good a leader is (McCleskey, 2013). There are several leaders that come up due to the situation demand, however it is not necessary that in every situation the leader would be able to hold his guard. An authoritative leader who emerges in crisis can unite a group by being bold and vocal but the same may fail in situations of condolences (Salehzadeh, 2015). According to the theory based on the competen ce and commitment of the team the leadership varies (Bates, 2014). It can be telling (specific guidance and close supervision), selling (explaining and persuading), participating (sharing and facilitating) and delegating (supervising and letting the team do it) (Thompson, 2015). I have seen situational leadership in several areas of my own life. The best example could be my father. At home itself, we can see so many varied leadership styles in him that change according to the situation and the people he is talking to. When there was a death in our family, my father had to take up the responsibility of arranging the funeral. He turned in to a participating leader not only for our family but for all those who were at the funeral. He told people what to do and how to do it without being dominant or rude. He did not ask people for their opinion but made sure all his decisions were helpful to crowd. The same person becomes a telling leader when I take a rash decision. When I persisted that I wanted something of one kind and my father knew that I would not require it, he would just tell that it is not going to happen. His voice is loud and his command clear. There is no going back and arguing or requesting, the decision is made. This is his authoritative style. Wh en there is a family decision to be made, such as a cousins marriage my father gathers all the concerned relatives and leads the discussion on whether certain things have to be done. He helps the group stayed focused on the situation and let them get to a conclusion through calm discussion. He only gives his opinion and lets the group lead. In case he finds that the decision of the group is irrational he helps them find direction. This is his delegating leadership style. Through great observation and study of the several theories on leadership and the several traits of effective leaders around the world, Barry Posner and M. Kouzes have come up with a model that states that leadership is not about personality or about the qualities that a leader possess but rather the behavior of the of the leader (Kouzes, 2014). The model defines five practices that an exemplary leader should possess (Kouzes, 2013). The first is model the way where the leader sets the way the team is to be treated and how the goals are to be pursued. The leader sets an example and shows the path for others to follow. In order to make sure that the team is not overwhelmed by the final goal, smaller goals are set and team is motivated to achieve one goal after another to reach the final goal (Dekrey, 2013). The second is to inspire a shared vision, where the leader envisions the future and portrays this image to all the members of the team. They pursue the team to achieve this vision t hrough creating exciting possibilities. The third is challenge the process where leaders search of challenging aspects of the process and use innovative ways to overcome the same (Zappasodi, 2014). Even if they fail they take it as a learning opportunity. The fourth is to enable others to act. A leader does not try to succeed alone but as a team. They collaborate, and build teams that are highly active and take up responsibilities. They strengthen each other, trust each other and help each other grow. The final practice is to encourage the heart. On accomplishing tasks they appreciate the team members openly (DuBrin, 2015). There has been an incident in a carrier aircraft (not named due to NDA). The takeoff weight of the aircraft was close to the maximum due to the altitude of the airport and the high temperatures of the area. However, the weather was good and the regular cockpit checkup was done. The first officer and the copilot were both relatively knew and since it was a carrier craft the company was satisfied with the experience of the pilots. A casual taxi towards the runway and the craft took off. Just about 5 seconds in the air, the left engine of the craft failed alerting the flying officer. The flying officer immediately contacted the on ground officer informing the situation. The crew panicked. But the flying officer, told the crew that the situation can be handled. He asked the copilot to check the manual while he started taking instructions from the ground office. He made it clear to the crew that they would land safely and delegated work. He challenged the issue with a brave heart and made sure that the pilot and the copilot followed the instruction to the point. He took the help of copilot to under the instructions wherever he could not follow and landed the plane safely. He congratulated his crew for their support. The captain kept his calm and should exemplary leadership and followed the five practices. Despite these styles and models there are several other leaders who follow a different theory called the path-model theory. It is very close to the concept of transactional leadership where awards and punishments are given to the team based on their performance. However, it is not limited to the same. The leader may command, cajole, sugar coat or tempt the team into doing work depending on the team but the idea is to achieve the ultimate goal. The leader clearly sets the objectives that is expected from the team, guides them, removes barriers if any and provides them with personal payoffs and development opportunities. The reason to adopt this theory is to deal with different kind of follower. Every member of the team may not have the same goal. But for the leader to achieve this goal the team member has to be aligned to do the same. The leader hence offers the team member with suitable perks for their contribution. I have earlier worked in a small firm where I came across one such leader. My manager had a team of 3 under him and we each had individual tasks. These tasks where independent but we had to each complete a targeted number of task. The manager however had a different target number for us. Before the job began, the manager called each one of us individually and had a personal interview about us where he tried to understand what we liked and what motivated us. The next day, he set a target of his own and said that whoever completed the task in the stipulated time would be given a benefit, for some it was tickets sponsored by the company, for others it was a training program. At the end of a month turned out that with the weekly benefits our team reached triple of the targeted task without even realizing that we worked so much. A leader is hence one who can mold and fit according to the situations and understand the team ,their expectations, their talents and skills and find ways to motivate them in achieving a set vision by setting an example. A great leader is one that molds for the team and molds the team positively to achieve success. References Bates, C., 2014. A study of situational leadership theory. Journal of Radix International Educational and Research Consortium, 3(11), pp.1-7. Dekrey, S.J., Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z., 2013. Making Extraordinary Things Happen in Asia: Applying The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. Making Extraordinary Things Happen in Asia: Applying The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership. Du, S., Swaen, V., Lindgreen, A. and Sen, S., 2013. The roles of leadership styles in corporate social responsibility. Journal of business ethics, 114(1), pp.155-169. DuBrin, A.J., 2015. Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills. Nelson Education. Ertureten, A., Cemalcilar, Z. and Aycan, Z., 2013. The relationship of downward mobbing with leadership style and organizational attitudes. Journal of business ethics, 116(1), pp.205-216. Gonos, J. and Gallo, P., 2013. Model for leadership style evaluation. Management: Journal of Contemporary Management Issues, 18(2), pp.157-168. Hersey, P., 2014. The Hersey and Blanchard situational leadership theory. Hogg, M.A. and Adelman, J., 2013. Uncertaintyidentity theory: Extreme groups, radical behavior, and authoritarian leadership. Journal of Social Issues, 69(3), pp.436-454. Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z., 2013. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership: How Ordinary People Make Extraordinary Things Happen. Kouzes, J.M. and Posner, B.Z., 2014. The student leadership challenge: Five practices for becoming an exemplary leader. John Wiley Sons. McCleskey, J.A., 2014. Situational, transformational, and transactional leadership and leadership development. Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, 5(4), p.117. Renko, M., El Tarabishy, A., Carsrud, A.L. and Brnnback, M., 2015. Understanding and measuring entrepreneurial leadership style. Journal of Small Business Management, 53(1), pp.54-74. Salehzadeh, R., Shahin, A., Kazemi, A. and Shaemi Barzoki, A., 2015. Proposing a new approach for evaluating the situational leadership theory based on the Kano model: The case of university students. International Journal of Public Leadership, 11(1), pp.4-20. Thompson, G. and Glas, L., 2015. Situational leadership theory: a test from three perspectives. Leadership Organization Development Journal, 36(5), pp.527-544. Winston, B.E. and Patterson, K., 2006. An integrative definition of leadership. International journal of leadership studies, 1(2), pp.6-66. Zappasodi, A.D., 2014. Review of The Student Leadership Challenge: Five Practices for Exemplary Leaders. Growth, 9(1).

Whats Going On In Kubla Khan Essays - Kublai Khan, British Poetry

Whats Going On In Kubla Khan What's Going on in ?Kubla Khan In 1798, a poet named Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote the poem called ?Kubla Khan?. In his preface, he stated that he had dreamt the poem, and wrote it down just as it was ?preserved?. The speaker also stated that the poem is merely a fragment, it is not complete. ?With the exception of about eight or ten scattered lines and images? that had been lost in the transition between sleep and being awake. In the first stanza, it seemed that the speaker was talking of a far away land, Xanadu. Kubla Khan was the leader of this land. This land had a sacred river running through it. It had many spots of greenery around it with forests that were almost ?ancient?. In lines one and two it says, ?In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure dome decree?. What could that mean? It could perhaps imply that Kubla Khan is a leader of some type, and he lives in a ?stately? palace. The speaker used the word dome instead of palace. Perhaps in his dream he saw a dome as big or a stately as a palace, and that is where Kubla Khan lived. In the second stanza, the speaker goes on to describe the land of Xanadu. He says that there is a cedar forest that is haunted by a ?woman wailing for her demon-lover.? ?A mighty fountain momently was forced? ?Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail? ?It flung up momently the sacred river? ?And ?mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!? It seems, in lines 17-31, that there could possibly be a war started. It is never said why the war was started or if there in fact is really a war, but after that sequence of lines the speaker goes into another rant. He said that there was a ?sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice.? It is not understood what the voice is trying to get across to the reader in this line. It is known that ice does not exist in the sun, at least not for long, so does this mean that there is not really a dome at all? After talking about the dome, the mask speaks of a damsel in the pleasure dome. The damsel was playing the dulcimer. The persona also says how the damsel could win his heart by playing the instrument. After those few off-set lines, the speaker goes on to say that he would build the dome in the sky, and that all that heard about it would see it there and yell ?beware, beware!? To whom they would yell this is unclear. The last couple of lines seem to be talking about Kubla Khan. His flashing eyes, his floating hair He must have been a sight to see. The voice also says that he ?drank the milk of paradise.? That could potentially mean that he lived a life of luxury and was a very mighty leader. In research done with help of the World Wide Web, it was found that Samuel Coleridge was addicted to a drug much like today's Acid. Could that signify that Mr. Coleridge might have been on a ?trip? when he wrote this poem, and that is why it remained unfinished and a fragment? Or quite possibly, it could be that Mr. Coleridge was just dreaming of the wonderful world of Kubla Khan. Poetry and Poets

Scarlet Letter And Dimmesdale Essays - English-language Films

Scarlet Letter And Dimmesdale In the book The Scarlet Letter, the character Reverend Dimmesdale, a very religious man, committed adultery, which was a sin in the Puritan community. Of course, this sin could not be committed alone. His partner was Hester Prynne. Hester was caught with the sinning only because she had had a child named Pearl. Dimmesdale was broken down by Roger Chillinsworth, Hester Prynne's real husband, and by his own self-guilt. Dimmesdale would later confess his sin and die on the scaffold. Dimmesdale was well known by the community and was looked up to by many religious people. But underneath his religious mask he is actually the worst sinner of them all. His sin was one of the greatest sins in a Puritan community. The sin would eat him alive from the inside out causing him to become weaker and weaker, until he cannot stand it anymore. In a last show of strength he announces his sin to the world, but dies soon afterwards. In the beginning Dimmesdale is a weak, reserved man. Because of his sin his health regresses more and more as the book goes on, yet he tries to hide his sin beneath a religious mask. By the end of the book he comes forth and tells the truth, but because he had hidden the sin for so long he is unable to survive. Dimmesdale also adds suspense to the novel to keep the reader more interested in what Reverend Dimmesdale is hiding and his hidden secrets. Therefore Dimmesdale's sin is the key focus of the book to keep the reader interested. Dimmesdale tries to cover up his sin by preaching to the town and becoming more committed to his preachings, but this only makes him feel even guiltier. In the beginning of the story, Dimmesdale is described by these words; "His eloquence and religious fervor had already given earnest of high eminence in his profession."(Hawthorne,44). This proves that the people of the town looked up to him because of the fact that he acted very religious and he was the last person that anyone expected to sin. This is the reason that it was so hard for him to come out and tell the people the truth. Dimmesdale often tried to tell the people in a roundabout way when he said "...though he (Dimmesdale) were to step down from a high place, and stand there beside thee on thy pedestal of shame, yet better were it so, that to hide a guilty heart through life."(Hawthorne,65). Dimmesdale obviously is trying to tell her that he does not want to hide with this guilt and that he will feel it and have temptations later but also that he is going to go through life with the sin. Dimmesdale is obviously hiding behind his religious mask and is afraid to come out and tell his secret. This secret tears him apart and eventually is the cause of his death. Reverend Dimmesdale was torn apart by his sin. It would make him do and think evil things. The sin even made him resort to flagellation in order to make the pain of the guilt go away. This self-prescribed torture Dimmesdale eventually lead to his death on the scaffold where he did as he promised Pearl; holding her and her mothers hand in front of the entire community. His torture included him pushing himself to become a better minister to help keep the guiltiness pushed back inside his head. He began working extremely to ensure that where his work would make the community think of him as an even more holy man who had done no wrong. In turn making his guilt rise up even more and then making himself have to push on and try to hide his guilt. Dimmesdale even puts himself through self-beatings. Where once he was a attractive man was now considered a pale, weak, emaciated coward who could barely walk and would have great pains, in which he would grab his chest. His torture brought him to his death where he died upon the very scaffold that Hester, his fellow sinner, had stood to face her punishment. Dimmesdale, throughout the book, knows of where he is and what he is doing. He is seen in the book as a reverend and to the reader as a man who is quite well-known in the community, but is obviously hiding something. This keeps the reader interested in the book, Dimmesdale's regression and why he regresses to his deathly state. What he

An Introduction to Representational Art

An Introduction to Representational Art The word representational, when used to describe a work of art, means that the work depicts something easily recognized by most people. Throughout our history as art-creating humans,  most  art has been representational. Even when art was symbolic, or non-figurative, it was usually representative of something. Abstract (non-representational) art is a relatively recent  invention and didnt evolve until the early 20th-century. What Makes Art Representational? There are three basic types of art: representational, abstract, and non-objective. Representational is the oldest, best-known, and most popular of the three. Abstract art typically starts with a subject that exists in the real world but then presents those subjects in a new way. A well-known  example of abstract art is Picassos Three Musicians.  Anyone looking at the painting would understand that its subjects are three individuals with musical instruments–but neither the musicians nor their instruments are intended to replicate reality. Non-objective art does not, in any way, replicate or represent reality. Instead, it explores color, texture, and other visual elements without reference to natural or constructed world. Jackson Pollock, whose work involved complex splatters of paint, is a good example of a non-objective artist. Representational art strives to depict reality. Because representational artists are creative individuals, however, their work need  not look precisely like the object they are representing. For example, Impressionist artists such as Renoir and Monet used patches of color to create visually compelling, representative paintings of gardens, people, and locations. History of Representational Art Representational art got its start many millennia ago with Late Paleolithic figurines and carvings. Venus of Willendorf, while not too terribly realistic, is clearly meant to show the figure of a woman. She was created around 25,000 years ago and is an excellent example of the earliest representational art. Ancient examples of representational art are often in the form of sculptures, decorative friezes, bas-reliefs, and busts representing real people, idealized gods, and scenes from nature. During the middle ages, European artists focused largely on religious subjects. During the Renaissance, major artists such as Michaelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci created extraordinarily realistic paintings and sculptures. Artists were also commissioned to paint portraits of members of the nobility. Some artists created workshops in which they trained apprentices in their own style of painting. By the 19th century, representative artists were beginning to experiment with new ways of expressing themselves visually. They were also exploring new subjects: instead of focusing on portraits, landscapes, and religious subjects, artists experiments with socially relevant topics related to the Industrial Revolution. Present Status Representational art is thriving. Many people have a higher degree of comfort with representational art than with abstract or non-objective art. Digital tools are providing artists with a wider range of options for capturing and creating realistic images.   Additionally, the workshop (or atelier) system continues to exist, and many of these teach figurative painting exclusively. One example is the School of Representational Art in Chicago, Illinois. There are also whole societies dedicated to representational art. Here in the United States, the Traditional Fine Arts Organization comes quickly to mind. A web search using the keywords of representational art (your geographical location) should turn up venues and/or artists in your area.

Street Gangs in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Street Gangs in America - Essay Example The social relationships of gangs provide teenagers a sense of belonging, an especially important need for developing adolescents. In many neighborhoods, youths are actively recruited or intimidated into joining gangs and seemingly have little choice. â€Å"A few [teens] are virtually born into gangs as a result of neighborhood traditions and their parents’ earlier and perhaps continuing gang participation or involvement in criminal activity† (Moore, 1978). The gang offers disenfranchised youths experiencing feelings of isolation that are also wavering between their native and adopted cultures and connected to neither, a family-like affiliation. These are many reasons that young people join gangs, all of which are relatively easy to understand. Therefore, this discussion will focus on the gangs themselves, their motivations, characteristics, general make-up and current trends concerning street gang activity in America. The typical age range of gang members is 12 to 24 years old with an average age of about 17 to 18 years, but this average is generally older in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles where gangs have been in existence longer (Curry & Decker, 1998). While the numbers of younger gang members are growing, the average age of members is also increasing. Gangs are progressively becoming proportionately older as they increase in total size throughout the country. Not surprisingly, male gang members well outnumber women by a large percentage, a disparity that widens as the members become older. Gangs differ in size depending on the types of criminal activity associated with the gang. â€Å"Traditional (large, enduring, territorial) gangs average about 180 members, whereas specialty (e.g., drug trafficking) gangs average only about 25 members. In large cities, some gangs number in the thousands and even tens of thousands† (Block & Block,