Saturday, March 14, 2020

Michel Foucault

Michel Foucault Michel Foucault was a famous and influential French philosopher. He was the leading individual who changed the idea of human body being a biological or physiological figure to a concept of sociology. He managed to change people’s mentality in the sense that the society normal or ordinary state of thinking and people’s perceptions changed significantly.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Michel Foucault specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Foucault was also thought of as the greatest and most intellectual scholar and philosopher who lived until the time of his death in 1984(Fenves 369). He came up with very important theories that are still used today and have changed the outlook of society in many ways (Adomo 470). For example, he observed that criminal justice system was not working or performing well as per the expectations of society. As a result, he came up with the Panopticon principle that trans formed the way jails and discipline for offenders was being perceived by society. Interestingly, this principle has remained firm in place bearing in mind that the entire face of criminal justice system was gradually reshaped with the adoption of this principle. Foucault focused more on human sexuality as well as the concept of power and human discipline. He was also very much involved in the gay community in San Francisco. Michel Foucault was born in Poitiers, France on October 15, 1926. His father and grandfather were physicians and although he was a brilliant student, he resisted his family and native country and traveled overseas when he fully came of age. When he was 20 years old, he was accepted into the EcoleNormaleSuperieure (ENS) in Paris (Adomo 470). He was a student of philosophy and psychology. For a while he was a follower of communism, but later in life he changed his views. He graduated from ENS in 1952, and started his career immediately. His career was known to be b oth intellectual and professional. He performed his roles with consistency and purpose. Foucault started his career as a teacher at University of Lille in France. From 1955 to 1960, he served as a cultural attachà © in Uppsala, Sweden; Warsaw, Poland; and Hamburg, Germany. Later on in 1960 to 1966, he served as a professor at the University of Clermont-Ferrand in France, (Bouchard 117). While he was there, he wrote his early monograms, which received attention, but only from a small audience. In 1966 however, things turned around for him when he published Les Motset les chosestranslated in English to The Order of Things. After the publication of the latter, he attracted a much larger audience. As a result, he was considered an original and controversial thinker of his time. At this point, Foucault decided to become a professor at the University of Tunis in Tunisia from 1966 to 1968(James 340). He then went on to become the director of the philosophy department at the University of Paris, Vincennes for two years.Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In 1970, he was given a seat in the history of systems of thought at the College de France (Adomo 470). It is imperative to note that this is one of France’s most prestigious institutions. This opened up the door to Foucault for conducting intensive research which lead to writings of his later works. Over the next thirteen years, he wrote quite a number of works, including his volumes on sexuality and Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison,as well as various essays. He continued to travel throughout the rest of his life and managed to extend his reputation to places like Italy, Canada, Japan, Brazil, and the United States, where he spent relatively long periods of time. He also became a visiting lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley for several years, before his death in 1984. It was alleged that he died of HIV/AIDS which was then an emerging infection (Fenves 377). The fourth volume of his history on sexuality was never completed. Foucault focused most of his research on finding out how to create some methodology on discipline that would be effective in society for purposes of controlling and regulating behavior that needs disciplining the body. He used the term disciplinary practices to describe institutions such as schools, churches as well as prisons which, to a large extent, assist in controlling and regulating any given society (Adomo 470). These institutions are strategically placed in society to teach people how they are supposed to act or think, or when someone goes against societal rules, these rules and regulations are supposed keep them out of society by being locked behind bars. They are changing constantly to come up with new ways to make sure they can keep control and regulate how people act in society. One of the easiest and most common ways to do this is by using surveillance (Bouchard 113). The constant monitoring of bodies and disciplining if necessary by these social institutions make people stay in line and behave how they are supposed to for fear of being disciplined. When people know or feel like they are being monitored, they act differently than they would if they were in their home or somewhere where there is no threat of punishment (Bertaux 366). This has lead to what Foucault refers to as docile bodies which are produced through improvement of individuals’ behaviors through discipline, use, subjugate, discipline by various procedures and techniques of discipline (Adomo 470). A good example of this would be the way teachers and parents expect children to sit quietly and do their work or pay attention for long periods of time. We are always telling children to be quiet and listen or to keep their hands to themselves. Eventually, they learn that they are supposed to be quiet when a teacher o r fellow student is speaking, and that hitting is not appropriate (Adomo 470). I work at a children’s fitness center, and although the main focus of our classes are to help these children work on fitness, we also stress the ability to stay in line and wait for their turn, or listen when the teacher is explaining the game they are going to play.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Michel Foucault specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More I have noticed that many children come into the program without ever having been in a structured setting before, and they have a hard time listening and doing what the rest of the class is doing, but after a few weeks, they sit nicely on their line and listen when they are supposed to (Bouchard 123). This proves that institutions really do use techniques to control and improve the way people act, and to show children the appropriate social norms they will need for the rest of thei r lives. One of Foucault’s most influential theories is the Panopticon principle. This theory is focused around the way prisons are run and how they keep control of inmates. The Panopticon is a large area with a tower in the center with rows of buildings surrounding it (Adomo 470). With this set up, each inmate can be monitored constantly, so they are under surveillance twenty-four hours a day. The inmate knows that he might be under watch, but he never knows if at any given moment he is being supervised, because they cannot see inside the supervisor’s room. Knowing that they could possibly be under watch makes them maintain some form of control and act appropriately largely due to the fact that they fear going through a disciplinary action g should they get caught breaking some of the clearly set rules and regualtions (Bertaux 360). Another example of this would be the way someone acts in a super market if they know that there are cameras in the store. Many store owne rs put cameras up that do not really work, but the sight of them makes shoppers believe that they are being taped. As a result, they are less likely to shoplift because they fear they will get caught (Adomo 470). A good real life example would also be the installation of cameras on school buses. When I was young, my fellow school mates would sometimes run out of control while riding in school bus and as such, they could not listen to the bus driver. She got a camera installed in the front of the bus, and told us that the principal could see the feed. These made all the children in the bus to sit nicely and quietly in their seats. From that time onwards, the problem never persisted. The children were afraid since they developed some fear that someone in authority was keenly watching them, and therefore, they acted appropriately. An explanation of his ideas in panoptical principles In a bid to fully understand and embrace modern forms of regulation in social field, many scholars have adopted the conceptual examples and principles of Michael Foucault’s panopticon theory. His ideas in the theory have compelled readers and analysts to contemplate that there is a possibility that panoptical theory has an explanatory frame that is useful, especially on contemporary practices of surveillance (Faubion 165).Advertising Looking for research paper on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the panopticon theory, Foucault focuses on vital factors that include disciplinary actions via systems of social control and the concept of power-knowledge. In his ideas, he strongly believed that through observing others, individuals were able to gain control, power and become knowledgeable (Adomo 470). Through it, all events that are taking place would be recorded, and every form of movement supervised. His theory has been lauded as a one that brought transition and transformation in disciplinary power seen from threats of discipline that creates a normalization of sorts (Hitchcock 124). Furthermore, from his ideas on panoptic discipline, an understanding that internalization of fear that an individual is being watched and the need to conform is created, and this achieves a positive response in behavior change that would not fully be achieved by total surveillance (Bertaux 354). The question that begs is how this works. By building on Foucault’s principle, power comes fr om observation. The behavior and actions of an observer are based upon what he sees exhibited on a monitor (Bouchard 113). This knowledge combined with observation ensures that individuals are fabricated in social order. However, some analysts argue that this is one way that Foucault’s principle in limiting the freedom of others and oppressing them. They further argue that this oppression comes from the threats and fact that a few individuals or groups manipulate others through control knowledge. While defending his principle, Foucault does not see the danger and oppression analysts are seeing (Adomo 470). Conversely, Foucault argues that through control knowledge, the repressions in social order created by individuals are minimized or reduced as panopticon fabricates individuals into social order. On the issue of power, who does not have it and who has it, Foucault’s idea was not to create a situation where others dominate or rule subjects, but he intended to create a system that will ensure that leaders or those who wish to create order find a ;suitable way of solving conflicts and resistance. Additionally, in his wisdom, Foucault did not give physical weapons that individuals could use to create order. Instead, his idea provided a powerful instrument of analysis. His idea has been adopted by many in urban public spaces, schools and offices where individual are induced to transform and conform to social order through surveillance. This has aided inn reducing pervasiveness and resistance to change in the society. His ideas have not received full support especially from a cross section of opposers of Foucault’s principles who think this is a violation of individuals’ right by use of intrusive electronics to control and modify behavior. The issue of freedom and security has plagued Foucault’s theories since his ideas are being seen as ways of incarcerating individuals who are in workplaces, public places and those going about their businesses (Faubion 158). It is imperative to underscore the fact that Foucault’s ideas make sense. This can be supported by the fact that unlike the former society that preceded contemporary one, resistance to change and conformity has tremendously increased( Fenves 369). The structure of the contemporary society has grown worse and become different since it lacks power to transform, instead, as Foucault puts it, relies on enlightenment reforms that bear inherent dangers inasmuch as they are made for and intended to correct barbarity (Bouchard 114). The latter, is intended to be corrected via enlightenment reforms that seeks to create order in the society via constructing learning institutions, modernizing medicine and elimination of dungeons (Adomo 470). In his ideas, Foucault claims that even with reforms, the issue of power and surveillance will be included since changes cause disturbance and the latter calls for order exercised through control and power. Moreover, the idea fronted by Foucault is based on carceral culture rather that the normal culture of spectacle. In it, he argues that formerly, and this is true in some societies today, the forms of discipline included obliteration, dismemberment and body torture. Other forms of discipline, especially in the aforementioned obliteration, rehabilitation occurs as well as internalization through a constitution. In his idea, creating reforms requires adoption of panopticon theory (Bertaux 354). For instance, in a prison set up, ensuring that there is order in the cells, creation of a surveillance tower would effectively control and monitor every movement. Creating on at the centre of a prison facility makes prisoners to feel that an individual is watching them inasmuch as they can not determine whether a person is in the tower (Bouchard 119). Adopting the prison example, Foucault claims that this can be used in both capitalist and democratic societies to maintain order. He believes that to creat e order, the populace must at all times know that someone somewhere is watching them. The advantage of this would be that the populace will police themselves through internalizing their own panoptic surveillance towers (Adomo 470) . The knowledge of being watched and the power of constraint aid individuals in taking responsibility in their actions. As such they play both the roles of subjection to internalized surveillance and power over their behavior. Today, governments and federal agencies have adopted the idea of Foucault and modernized it through modern technology whereby they track the behavior .and movements of the populace with systems of control such as surveillance cameras in public places, credit cards, ATM’s, the census, social security numbers, cell phones, telephones and the internet. The use of Panopticon is a carceral culture and idea that has been diffused to affect urban planning through discouraging concealment and monitoring movements. Additionally, it is used in learning institutions, factory architecture and hospitals. The idea of ponopticon schema and its application is polyvalent. Foucalt argued that it has been used to induce idlers and beggars to work, supervise workers, confine the insane, instruct school children, and treat patients and reform prisons (Bouchard 113). Through it, intervention and instruments of power are defined, power is channeled and disposed to its powers, and hierarchical organizations as well as distribution of individual are tracked and located. His idea was to have a society in which its functions are generalized. This is evident today in the manner in which the contemporary society has become a part of the panoptic mechanism. As a matter of fact, Foucault’s idea has been used today to internalize regulations and rules to bring conformity. Societies such as the American society that is fond of committing violence to innocent subjects just for the sake of following authorities (Adomo 470). Interna lizing rules aids in contesting unjust rules through naturalizing them. Additionally, rather than the crude, old-fashioned, unusual and cruel punishment that many societies in the nineteenth century and even today apply to rehabilitate law breakers, the use of ponopticon would be a normal way of creating reforms. Early reform methods have been considered to be inhumane to the insane and prisoners. For instance, Foucault argues that the use of torture affects the private aspects of individuals’ lives. The idea of using ponopticon in effect acts as a judge everywhere such that social workers, educators, teachers and every other individual will feel that someone is watching them and ready to judge them for their actions(Faubion 148). Other important aspects of the theory are that through the ponopticon, specialization of workforce in an organization increases, efficiency is built and value placed in organizing individuals and data to effect dissemination of information and goods as wel as to effect mass production despite injustices or exploitations. An analysis of his theories To understand social regulation and its modern forms, it is imperative to adopt the conceptual exemplar of the panopticon metaphor created by Michel Foucault. In the field of surveillance and in a post-panoptic world, the use of panopticon has drawn critical reactions and questions on its relevance. During the practice of contemporary surveillance, determining the usefulness of panopticon requires analyzing its course using an explanatory frame (Fenves 369). Readers and analysts of Foucault’s ideas and who seek to determine the possibility of a panopticon to work effectively in light of complex situations have been compelled to contemplate on how they can go beyond the conceptual boundaries of this multifaceted and rich concept to the implications of its manifold functions (Adomo 470). Critiques have blamed the idea of surveillance technology to interference with individualsà ¢â‚¬â„¢ freedoms and security. Monitoring and tracking individual who are not incarcerated doing their normal daily activities through surveillance cameras claiming to modify or control their behavior is a violation of their rights. They further argue that the intrusive electronic society formed by the panoptic mechanism is in itself pervasive and hence cannot manage the information that it is collecting and tracking. In analyzing his theories, it is important to find answers to a number of issues that includes the possibility of mobilizing a counter- power to manage the power systems in the society, create a power that resists existing powers or surrender and allow individuals to be controlled and be manipulated by forces endeavoring to manage people from afar(Bertaux 354). Some of the core themes that are instructive and solid found in the study of surveillance includes visibility, subjectivity, resistance, normativity and power. His idea has been adopted by many in urban public s paces, schools and offices where individual are induced to transform and conform to social order through surveillance. This has aided inn reducing pervasiveness and resistance to change in the society (Adomo 470). His ideas have not received full support especially from a cross section of opposers of Foucault’s principles who think this is a violation of individuals’ right by use of intrusive electronics to control and modify behavior. The issue of freedom and security has plagued Foucault’s theories since his ideas are being seen as ways of incarcerating individuals who are in workplaces, public places and those going about their businesses. It is imperative to note that Foucault’s theories such as that of governmentality and panopticon have raised controversies among analysts. This has been observed in the manner at which individuals have felt that like in the former society that preceded this contemporary one, resistance to change and conformity has tr emendously increased (Faubion 149). As already mentioned, the structure of the contemporary society has grown worse and become different since it lacks power to transform, instead, as Foucault puts it, relies on enlightenment reforms that bear inherent dangers inasmuch as they are made for and intended to correct barbarity (Adomo 470). The latter, is intended to be corrected via enlightenment reforms that seeks to create order in the society via constructing learning institutions, modernizing medicine and elimination of dungeons. In his ideas, Foucault claims that even with reforms, the issue of power and surveillance will be included since changes cause disturbance and the latter calls for order exercised through control and power (Fenves 369). These themes and their key problematics are nuanced by Foucauldian interpretations or by alternative theoretical frameworks. On the other hand, since most studies have focused on the negative aspects of surveillance, it is imperative to crit ically focus on the epistemological way forward. Looking at it in a determistic and dystopian way, sociologists argue that surveillance offers moral governance through monitoring programs. The ideas of Michel Foucault have over the years led to significant developments of the surveillance systems (Faubion 357). However, research studies have indicated the various limitations in the foundational concepts of panopticon claiming that the explanations that Foucault has given in his ideas on surveillance are insufficient. This is observed in how it functions. By building on Foucault’s principle, power comes from observation. The behavior and actions of an observer are based upon what he sees exhibited on a monitor. This knowledge combined with observation ensures that individuals are fabricated in social order (Bertaux 354). However, some analysts argue that this is one way that Foucault’s principle in limiting the freedom of others and oppressing them. They further argue t hat the oppression comes from the threats and the fact that a few individuals or groups manipulate others through control knowledge. While defending his principle, Foucault does not see the danger and oppression analysts are seeing. Conversely, Foucault argues that through control knowledge, the repressions in social order created by individuals are minimized or reduced as panopticon fabricates individuals into social order (Adomo 470). On the issue of power, who does not have it and who has it, Foucault’s idea was not to create a situation where others dominate or rule subjects, but he intended to create a system that will ensure that leaders or those who wish to create order find a ;suitable way of solving conflicts and resistance. Additionally, in his wisdom, Foucault did not give physical weapons that individuals could use to create order. Instead, his idea provided a powerful instrument of analysis. The ideas of Michel Foucault have over the years led to significant deve lopments of the surveillance systems. However, research studies have indicated the various limitations in the foundational concepts of panopticon claiming that the explanations that Foucault has given in his ideas on surveillance are insufficient (Fenves 369). Analysts observe that the argument on Foucault’s principle that power comes from observation betrays the suitability of panopticon the best in contemporary surveillance dynamics. Inasmuch as the behavior and actions of an observer are based upon what he sees exhibited on a monitor, it alters the metaphor of panopticon with complex perspectives beyond panopticon such as seen in foucault’s governmentality theory such as models of assemblage, social sorting and concepts of hyper-control. This knowledge combined with observation critics depicts his ideas induces and fabricates individuals into social order (Bertaux 354). Additionally, some analysts argue that this is one way that Foucault’s principle in limiti ng the freedom of others and oppressing them. They further argue that the oppression comes from the threats and the fact that a few individuals or groups manipulate others through control knowledge. Moreover, other analysts are of the opinion that through control knowledge, the repressions in social order created by individuals are minimized or reduced as panopticon fabricates individuals into social order (Faubion 148). On the issue of power, who does not have it and who has it, Foucault’s idea was not to create a situation where others dominate or rule subjects, but he intended to create a system that will ensure that leaders or those who wish to create order find a ;suitable way of solving conflicts and resistance. Additionally, in his wisdom, Foucault did not give physical weapons that individuals could use to create order. Instead, his idea provided a powerful instrument of analysis. The growth of panoptic surveillance has been regarded as a form of oppression that is sp read by Foucault’s theory of governmentality. The knowledge of being watched and the power of constraint threaten the security of a populace. As such they play both the roles of subjection to internalized surveillance and power over their behavior (Bertaux 353). Today, governments and federal agencies have adopted the idea of Foucault and modernized it through modern technology whereby they track the behavior .and movements of the populace with systems of control such as surveillance cameras in public places, credit cards, ATM’s, the census, social security numbers, cell phones, telephones and the internet (Adomo 470). The use of Panopticon is a carceral culture and idea that has been diffused to affect urban planning through discouraging concealment and monitoring movements. Additionally, it is used in learning institutions, factory architecture and hospitals. Adomo, Theodor.  Parataxis: Zur spaten Lyrik Holderlins.Noten zur Literatur. 1(2005) :447-494. Bertaux, Pi erre. Was Holderlin mentally Ill? Philosophy Today 37.4 (2007): 353-368. Bouchard, Donald. 2009. Language Counter-MemoryPractice:  Selected Essays  and Interviews, translated by Donald Bouchard Sherry Simon. Philosophy Today (2007): 113-138.   Faubion, James. Aesthetics: Essential Works of Foucault 1954-1984. Social Indicators Research. 2, (2000): 147-170.   Fenves, Peter. Measure for Measure: Holderlin and the Place of Philosophy. Philosophy Today 37(4/4), (1993): 369-382. Hitchcock, Louise. Theory for Classics. New York: Routledge, 2008.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Greek City-States Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Greek City-States - Research Paper Example The size of the city states varied. While some consisted of few square miles, there are some consisting of over 100 square miles. The large city states formed through the consolidation of several cities. For example, the territory of Attica which earlier had 12 city-states became a single city state of Athens. By fifth century BC, it had a population of 250000. But most city states had population of few thousands only. The word politics is derived from the Greek word Polis. For the Greeks, the polis was not only a political institution, but it was a community of persons in which all political, economic, social, cultural and religious activities are focused (Spielvogel). The people in the city state consisted of citizens with political rights, citizens without political rights and non citizens. In the city state, women and children had no political rights. Slaves were not considered as citizens. All citizens of the polis had rights and responsibilities. According to Aristotle, the fat her of Political Science, every citizen must consider himself as belonging to the state. He emphasised on the unity of the people and believed that the state should take the initiative to direct the life of the community. This patriotism however brought distrust among the various city states that ultimate resulted in its ruin. In fact, Greece was not a politically united country. There was no central government in ancient Greece. It mainly denotes the geographical location only (Ancient Greek City-States ). War was an integral part of Greek way of life. According to the great Greek philosopher Plato, war exists by nature between every Greek city state. The tradition of warfare developed by Greeks became part of western civilisation. They possessed excellent weapons and made use of technological advancements. A large number of citizens were solders. They were interested in discipline and receiving training. This gave the Greek army an edge over the opponents’ larger armies. Th ey had a willingness to engage the enemy directly and thus the battle ends quickly with fewer casualties. They also demonstrated the effectiveness of heavy infantry. Colonisation Another major development during 750 BC and 550 BC was the expansion of Greece and growth of trade. Over population, hunger, poverty, growth of trade etc. forced many Greeks to leave their homeland and settle in distant parts. Most of them settled inn fertile agricultural lad taken from native population. Each colony was established as a polis and was independent of the mother polis (metropolis). The Greek settlements in Western part of Mediterranean included cities of Tarentum (Taranto) and Neapolis (Naples). Many Greek communities established in Italy who were later called Magna Graecia by the Romans. Syracuse, another city found by the Corinth was important. Greeks also established in southern France, Northern Africa and Western Egypt. The Greeks also established on the banks of black sea, most important being Byzantium. By establishing a trading post in Egypt, Greeks also got access to the culture and goods from the East. Results of colonisation Greek settlements in different places resulted in spreading Greek culture throughout Mediterranean region. The Romans had first contacts with Greece through settlements in south Italy. It also helped in developing a Greek identity. The Greek communities before the 8 century had isolated life. When they went abroad and confronted people

Monday, February 10, 2020

Ads and Media Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ads and Media - Essay Example There is a dire need to include more ethnic groups in broad media and bring them to the forefront in order to give them greater opportunity in professional and other aspects. The media that is portrayed to the broader audience is usually the least ethnically diverse and covers less of their lives and there are only the stereotypical caste members. Mostly in America, during the hours in which people view television the most is the time in which very skewed caste members and limited types of shows are aired, building the perception in children from a very young age as to what constitutes an important caste and which caste is subordinate, when that should not be the case. In 1998 the role of ethnic minorities, such as African Americans, Native Americans and Hispanics actually declines when their visibility should actually have increased over the years. Narrowcasting to an ethnic minority about their group of people doesn’t make other groups aware of their potential and their life style, and doesn’t bring about the sensitization that is necessary for a harmonized media and a harmonized world (J.E. 2005)) Media just focuses on the glamor and luster; they prefer to show the downtrodden as downtrodden in broader mediums such as television and print rather than reality, because they want to carry on with the stereotypical images that were set years ago. But the world is becoming more globalized today, and different media gets across different channels and to different groups of people; therefore media should become more ethnically diverse as well. Broadcasting should be done on matters that can relate to all kinds of people and not just relating to one caste or creed. Even though most people have their own judgments, and have become to realize the true face of media, it is nevertheless the only means of communication with the mass and thus can be influential whether it portrays a good image or a bad image. And for those whose only means of news is the medi a, their life concepts would be built around what the media portrays; for example in those cultures with lesser opportunity, and only access to a television, media is all what they believe in, and if Americans are seen as being an assertive race or the Iraqis as being Taliban, animosity is built through the media by casting to a smaller audience. Ethnic media is broadcasted in some societies and it helps in preventing isolation and keeping the language and cultures alive and this helps bring about change and is essential to a healthy society. News media which caters to a broader audience, also gives a voice to members of society and so if only the majorities are represented, the minorities lose out their voice on this medium as well. It also eliminates the top down approach and connects all cultures on a horizontal plane, thus reducing ambiguity and hostility. However, even the news can create dissent among racial groups rather than community (European Research Centre on Migration a nd Ethnic Relations 2002). U.S residents get majority of their information from ethnic media. There are multilingual polls, and there is a preference among people to view ethnic media and even those who preferred mainstream media have reverted to ethnic media. However, the consumers of this media were usually minorities, so this doesn’t represent the mainstream media channels, be it television, radio or newspapers (Lalley 2005). Most sources do not believe that ethnic minorities are given adequate representation in mainstream media; and even if they are, it is inaccurate and doesn’t give a true picture. Therefore it is important that they are not only represented on this platform which will help them communicate better and

Friday, January 31, 2020

Poetry and War Essay Example for Free

Poetry and War Essay How does Owen explore the themes of war through the power of his poetry? Written by: vdg How does Owen explore the themes of war through the power of his poetry? Answer Q Owen expresses the themes of war through the unique power of poetry. Both the mental and physical brutality of war is emphasised in the poems, â€Å"The Send off,† â€Å"Anthem for doomed youth† and â€Å"Spring Offensive,† furthering the responder’s understanding of a soldier’s life on the western front. Owen employs various poetic devices such as imagery, symbolism and sound techniques, and powerful language features, together helping to convey the different aspects of war, such as the themes of ___ (maybe 4 main themes). 100 words on extract, linking to q Wilfred Owen’s, â€Å"The send-off,† illustrates the consequences of war and reveals its cynical, secretive nature through the use of poetic devices. The title, â€Å"The Send-off,† depicts two different images about the nature of war. â€Å"Send-off† could be interpreted as a farewell to soldiers, in the hope of their return, or metaphorically could convey their literal fighting till death. The composer’s use of symbolism, â€Å"darkening lane,† portrays the sinister side of war, while the alliteration, â€Å"grimly gay,† creates irony. This depicts the soldiers’ hidden fear of going into battlefield, compared with their initial excitement at â€Å"send-off. † The composer also emphasises the fact that the â€Å"typical† send-off is an emotionless, mechanical procedure for many military personal, rather than a cheerful experience. Owen’s choice of diction is used to convey the horrors and themes of war. The metaphor, â€Å"Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray. As men’s are, dead,† reinforces the concept of doom and sacrifice during war, through the onomatopoeia of â€Å"stuck† and the negative connotations associated with the word â€Å"dead†. Diction is used, â€Å"Dull porters watched them, and a casual tramp†¦staring hard, sorry to miss them†¦,† to demonstrate that most onlookers have a lack of emotion towards war. The rhetorical question, â€Å"Shall they return to beatings of great bells in wild train-loads? ,† conveys the uncertainty of war, where a soldier’s fate is unknown to many. The composer’s use of repetition â€Å"A few, a few, too few for drums and yells†, conveys a sense of loneliness, as there are only a handful of soldiers who have returned home, depicting the horrors of the aftermath of war. The composer’s use of imagery, â€Å"May creep back, silent†¦up half-known roads†, portrays the returned soldiers’ disillusioned state of mind, effectively giving the responder an insight into the consequences of war. The composer’s successful use of personification in this poem, â€Å"Then, unmoved, signals nodded† and â€Å"a lamp winked to the guard†, illustrates the secretive and cynical nature of war, and presents the mental assumptions about a typical war. Personification is also used, â€Å"So secretly, like wrongs hushed-up, they went,† to communicate the soldier’s unfair treatment at the hands of the government, while the phrase â€Å"they were not ours†, alludes to the soldier’s lack of belongingness. LINK TO Q Another poem, in which Owen uses the power of poetry to convey the themes of war, is â€Å"Anthem for doomed youth. † The title, â€Å"Anthem for doomed youth,† acts as an extended metaphor for the sacrificial and improvident consequences of war. Owen uses religious imagery, â€Å"candles† and â€Å"choirs†, alluding to the funeral ceremonies associated with such religious symbols, while also depicting the inhumane nature of killing during the war. â€Å"Doomed,† conveys a pessimistic tone and creates an image of entrapment. The opening rhetorical question, â€Å"What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? †, illustrates the dehumanisation of war through the use of animal imagery. Moreover, the composer’s repetition, â€Å"only,† highlights the insufficient homage paid to death. Owen also employs alliteration and symbolism to convey the themes related with war. Alliteration, â€Å"rapid-rattle†¦,† is used to assist the responder’s knowledge of the nature of death, and heightens our aural and visual senses to these disorientating images. Another example of alliteration, â€Å"sad shires†¦,† conveys the after effects of war and its devastating consequences. Owen also tries to convey the horrifying nature of war through his vivid use of symbolism. Religious and church symbols such as â€Å"bells† and â€Å"choirs,† denote religion as a sanctuary from the horrors and evils of war. Imagery, â€Å"What candles maybe held†¦shall shine in the holy glimmers of good-byes†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , transforms the mourner’s candlelight into tears and the â€Å"pallor† of mourners faces are compared to a â€Å"pall†, contrasting the different funeral images in war and peace. Also, the connotation of â€Å"each slow dusk†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , reinforces the cycle of life and death. It is evident that through the composer’s power of poetry, various themes been conveyed about war, thus heightening the responder’s understanding of the war experience. SUM UP THEMES In the final two lines of the poem, the composer makes successful use of imagery together with alliteration to convey the horrors of war, â€Å"Each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds,† revealing the end for many soldiers’ lives. LINK TO Q Through the poem, â€Å"Spring offensive†, the composer conveys the various themes about war, through contrast, imagery and simile. The positive connotation, â€Å"Spring,† reinforces the idea of rebirth and renewal, which is juxtaposed with the destructive connotations associated with â€Å"offensive†. Owen awakens the audience through the harshness of the sound â€Å"f† in the alliteration, â€Å"fearfully flashed†. In so doing, the composer provides an ominous warning on the battlefield. Owen’s vivid use of death imagery, â€Å"Knowing their feet had come to the end of the world†, portrays a rather chilling and detrimental perspective of the battlefield. Owen continues to mix the ideas of war and nature in the third stanza. Here the composer effectively juxtaposes the beauty of â€Å"buttercups† with the men’s â€Å"boots,† to emphasise war’s unnatural repulsiveness. Owen’s use of simile, â€Å"clutched to them and to them like sorrowing hands†¦,† conveys mother nature’s unwillingness to relinquish the soldier’s lives. Simile is also used, â€Å"like a cold gust†, to depict the lack of warmth and quiet beginnings of confrontation, as war commences in the fourth stanza. Owen also successfully uses vivid war imagery to convey the various concepts of war in â€Å"Spring-offensive† and thus portraying the horrors present in war. The imagery, â€Å"So soon they topped the hill, and raced together†¦instantly the whole sky burned with fury†¦,† illustrates the dark and frightening nature of war amongst this peaceful physical environment, while the unity, â€Å"together,† highlights that the men go into battlefield as a group. Finally, the composer’s use of the rhetorical question â€Å"Why speak not they of comrades that went under? †, conveys the ghastly and silent nature of the battlefield, as the battle nears to an end. LINK TO Q Consequently, it is evident Owen has been able to integrate various poetic devices and language features into his poems, to reveal numerous ideas within war. Owen has been able to successfully convey the horrors of war through his power of poetry and his influential words. ANSWER THE Q Where ever possible, LINK TO Q!!! MEMORISE â€Å"The Send-Off† is a poem written about WW1 soldiers leaving their homes to go off to war. It is set in a train station where a soldier is watching the new recruits boarding the train. You can tell it is written by an on looking soldier because in line 12 he says, â€Å"They were not ours†; where as previously he had been referring to them as â€Å"them†. In â€Å"The Send-Off†, Owen conveys his feelings about the war and the young soldiers going off to die. You can tell he has a very pessimistic attitude to the likelihood of the soldiers surviving. You can see this from his continual references to death, â€Å"Their breasts were stuck all stuck with wreath and spray/As men’s are, dead†. To convey his emotions and foretelling further he uses a range of language. The actual words that he uses are quite simple, but he uses many effects to create imagery. In line 3, Owen uses the oxymoron, â€Å"grimly gay†, this gives the impression that the soldiers know what is going to happen to them and they are scared, but they put on a brave face anyway so as not to upset their families, each-other and also, if they don’t admit their fear to themselves, then maybe it will go away. In the poem there is often para-rhym, for example, â€Å"They were not ours†¦who gave them flowers†. There is more often though just a normal rhyme. This rhyme scheme seems to have no particular pattern; it will start a pattern, and then change it. It starts off A, B, A, A, B, C, B, C, and carries on in the same sort of irregular patterns. Maybe Owen is trying to convey the mixed, uncertain feelings and lives that can change so quickly, with a mixed, uncertain rhyme scheme. This is the same with the rhythm; I think this is to represent, instead of the regular, ordered marching step that the army is renowned for, there is disorder and chaos. I think that he is trying to convey the truth of war. Analysis of The send off 2006-09-10 Added by: John Terry This poem actually conveys a message to the readers. That war is not as glorious and honourable as it is always portrayed as. The pun in the title also shows this. The send-off could mean two things. Firstly, it could mean that the soldiers were being sent off to war. However, it could also mean that the soldiers were being sent off to their deaths. This emphasizes the fact that war actually is not what it is portrayed to be. It is not glorious and honourable to fight in war but the people and soldiers going through it are actually filled with grieve and most soldiers do not survive in war. The pun has brought across this message to the reader. WAR IS not an honourable and glorious thing to be in.

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Geosynchronous Orbits :: essays research papers

Geosynchronous Orbits + Geostationary Orbits<a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=pcZ8g7DjAzA&offerid=6424&type=2&subid=0&url=http%253A//search.borders.com/fcgi-bin/db2www/search/search.d2w/Details%253F%2526mediaType%253DBook%2526prodID%253D3805147" >Webster's Dictionary<IMG border=0 alt=icon width=1 height=1 src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=pcZ8g7DjAzA&bids=6424&type=2&subid=0" > defines a Geostationary orbit as of, relating to, or being a satellite that travels above Earth's equator from west to east at an altitude of approximately 35,900 kilometers (22,300 miles) and at a speed matching that of Earth's rotation, thus remaining stationary in relation to Earth. 2. Of, relating to, or being the orbit of such a satellite. In plain English, a satellite matches the earth's rotation making it seemingly hover over one spot of the globe enabling coverage of half the earth's surface. Three such satellit es, appropriately spaced longitudinally, have worldwide coverage except for relatively small areas over the poles. Three main classes are typically placed into a GSO: Communications, missile early warning, and navigational satellites. The uses are unlimited ranging from commercial use to weather forecasts! The GSO originated in the mid-1970's. The U.S. Air Force designed a two-stage interim upper stage (later renamed inertial upper stage, or IUS) to carry satellites weighing as much as 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) from the shuttle to Geostationary orbit, and a three-stage version for boosting NASA' s space probes from the shuttle into interplanetary trajectories. IUS development problems, however, prompted NASA in the early 1980' s to design a widebody version of the Centaur upper stage to replace the three-stage IUS.In its first use (1983) aboard the shuttle, the IUS's second-stage nozzle burned through and left the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-1) in a useless orbit. Gr ound controllers were able to use the satellite's onboard thrusters to put it in the proper Geostationary orbit over a period of weeks, but the IUS was grounded until the nozzle problem was resolved.

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Groups graphs and surfaces

Graphs, Groups and Surfaces Introduction In this paper, we will discuss the interactions among graphs, groups and surfaces. For any given graph, we know that there is an automorphism group associated with it. On the other hand, for any group, we could associate with it a graph representation, namely a Cayley graph of presentations of the group. We will first describe such a correspondence. Also, a graph is always embeddable in some surface. So we will then focus on properties of graphs in terms of their relation to surfaces. Thus, by using the Cayley graphs to describe a group, we can talk about the embeddability of a group.In this way, we see that we can talk about the geometries of a group by looking at their Cayley graphs. Another useful geometric tool to analyze groups is the Dehn diagram. Therefore, in the last section, we will give some comments on how graph theory may be helpful to Dehn diagrams of Coxeter groups. 2 Cayley Graph of Group Presentations In this section we will s ee how Cayley graphs correspond to a particular presentation of a group and how the properties of a group are reflected in the Cayley graphs. Definition 2. 1. Let G be a group

Monday, January 6, 2020

The Success Of Henry Ford - 1451 Words

â€Å"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.† -Henry Ford. This quote was one of the key ideas that led him to success. Henry Ford went from working on his family s farm to mass manufacturing cars. Early on Henry Ford realized his goal in life, he has countless achievements, and has a forever lasting legacy. To begin, Ford had an interesting childhood. On July 30, 1863, on the Ford family farm, an innovator was born. He got his education in a one room schoolhouse, there he showed early signs of mechanical engineering. In the schoolhouse, he learned how to read, write, spell, and simple arithmetics. However, outside of school, he taught himself to take apart and put together again every†¦show more content†¦He was part of two car companies before the Ford Motor Company. He left both companies, even his own Henry Ford Company, because he was always micromanaged. A great quote from Henry Ford to prove this is â€Å"qua lity means doing it right when no one is looking† This explains that he needed to focus more on innovating the car, and less on pleasing other people during this process. All of these values and traits helped Ford up the path to success. Furthermore, Henry Ford had a lot of achievements and failures while on his way to success. He participated in numerous affairs including: racing cars, creating companies, and innovating cars. While at the Edison Illuminating Company, Ford had a nice home for his family which included a shed. In his shed, he created his first car called the quadricycle. It was simply two bikes with an engine and it could go 60 miles without breaking down. However Henry had a new dream, to make and drive race cars. He wanted to focus on this so he sold the quadricycle and he quit his job. Some time later, he finally entered a race, but as a rookie nobody took him seriously. To everyone’s surprise, Ford came in first place and won a thousand dollars. Thi s victory brought him new investors. Thus Ford created the Henry Ford Company. This company was a huge risk for the investors so, they had inspectors that constantly wanted to know what Ford was up to. Naturally, he hated this kind of poking and heShow MoreRelated Henry Ford Essay1744 Words   |  7 PagesHenry Ford Henry Ford was one of the most brilliant entrepreneurs in creating the automobile assembly line, it was his controversial characteristics and unorthodox approach towards administrating the Ford Motor Company which resulted in the conglomeration of one of the most successful corporations in the world. At the turn of the century everything was booming! The growth of the economy and stock market increased the job opportunities as well as morals. As a result of this industrial revolutionRead MoreBiography of Henry Food757 Words   |  3 PagesHenry Ford is the man who forever changed American automobiles. Henry Ford converted the automobile from a luxury toy to a mainstream item of American society. During the beginning of the 20th century, the automobile was considered a luxury for the wealthy but Ford was determined to create an affordable and reliable car that a majority of Americans could invest in. This model that Henry Ford created was called the Model T, and it is one of the main reasons why Henry Ford is remembered as an extremelyRead MoreHenry Ford And The American Civil War1194 Words   |  5 PagesHenry Ford had only a modest education. He didn’t invent the gasoline engine; he didn’t invent the auto mobile; he didn’t really invent anything. Yet, when he died in 1947, Ford, and the company he founded had a profound effect on the world he taught to drive. 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