Critical and Rational Analysis of Technology Change Models Essay

Critical and Rational Analysis of Technology Change Models - Essay Example Humanity only has a vague idea of the future, and anticipations and expectations change as new aspects of technology are introduced ("Technology and Change"). There are times when technology change may seem foreseeable but the way it has taken the world by surprise cannot simply be underrated. It has, indeed, created a plethora of advanced skills and expertise. Today's technological advances have it possible for individuals to explore the universe in a blink of the eye ("Technology and Change"). It created a vast and wide understanding of the world around us and instigated a deep-down comprehension of why life has to evolve in such a way that it has to shed its skin from the past and continue to live for the future. Everyday, we see technology change happen on our streets, at our homes, in school, or in the office. We always see technology change in our lives. However, in spite of its clear existence, many people cannot simply accept what type of changes technology has to offer. This is because in some ways, it happens so abruptly that they cannot instantly grasp what it has to offer or what good it can provide them. Modern technology has given humanity the chance to use highly advanced and innovative devices that makes life a bit easier, replacing obsolete and primitive devices that were in use not so long ago. These modern devices and methods all have the potential to make life easier if used properly ("Technology"). And perhaps they were. What used to be an innovative and practical change that created a life full of immediacy and modernization are now feeble and staggering, needled by wrong dispositions, crippled by self demoralization, overwhelmed with selfishness or drained of energy by war and violence, or otherwise threatened by a global phenomenon known as nuclear war. More than ever before, it has become clear that the torch of technology change will be passed to the next generation at a time sooner than we would like to think, or accept, signaling that cycles and passages relentlessly revolve even when we are not aware of it - or particularly when we are not aware of it. However underhanded and terrifying it can be, the way technology change has thrived in human history has always been and will always is a part of it. With the explicit impact of technology change, people do not have any choice but to go with the flow. Hence, they have undeniably submitted their selves to such events and blindly accepted the fact that technology is here to stay. There are various organizations existing today that promotes technological change in spite of the possible repercussions it may bring ("Technology and Systematic Change"). Even if it comes to the point of being both a sociological and technological issue, it may never be denied that it is a part of social change. One of these organizations, nsba.org, states that:Boards of education need to recognize that technology integration is as much aboutchange as it is about technology. How board members feel about change and theirattitudes about people's ability to change or not to change are crucia ("Technology andSystematic Change") Those that support technology and technological change state that in order for technology to truly serve its purpose to society, it has to be integrated and incorporated into social institutions such as educational units. This will

Police and Lethal Force Essay Example for Free

Police and Lethal Force Essay Police work entails expectedly many opportunities for misuse of authority or the excessive use of force which is not necessary when in the line of duty (Strack 1994; ACLU 1991). This is a primary issue that concerns policing and the grave and abusive conduct of men in uniform whether they are in the United States or elsewhere in the world (Police culture and behavior 2008).   There are various factors that are usually pointed at whenever this happens; police officers already in the brink of burn out are a primary reason. However, the mental or psychological state of an officer is usually in question if this use of lethal force occurs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Why is this considered an issue? It is a given usually, that a police officer is knowledgeable of the â€Å"force continuum† (www.policetest.info) which is a kind of scale that guides an officer in graduated level with which what method or approach will he resort to under any given circumstance (see appendix A).   This shows that by his mere presence alone, the officer realizes, the suspect may be alerted or threatened and succeeding responses by the two individuals (i.e., if it involves two people only) are then again graded and evaluated by the officer according to the force continuum. Precisely because reports are aplenty concerning police brutality which happens when a suspect is frisked and/or confronted with a criminal activity and many of these instances that the persons of interest or suspects do not even have any weapon of sorts with them, nor were they in the position challenging the person in authority. The case of Rodney King in 1991 became a platform for many of these reforms that were made eventually, to respond to public clamor for justice regarding perpetrators the like of which Rodney King had suffered from.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Studies show that in most organizations where reforms have been initiated, what was important was the regular monitoring of the activities of police officers ensures that these men minimize their propensity to exercise the capability of employing lethal or deadly force against any citizen or any suspect unless merited. This is not just to safeguard any suspect or citizen whether they are coming from the expected â€Å"marginalized groups† where the most likely victims are men of color, older or aging citizens, women and children but even these same men in uniform from their own tendencies to act with anger or rage and resort to these means (ACLU 1991). â€Å"To serve and to protect† can mean both ways when interpreted in the light of these reforms: it means serving and protecting the men themselves who are employed to do the same to the general public. Affirming their code of ethics now and then may be a small thing but it is still a major part of reminding officers why they are in the force and the accountability that is necessary in the deterrence of themselves committing a crime needlessly. Appendix A    The Force Continuum More Force Deadly Force Less Lethal Pepper Spray, Baton, Taser Empty Hand Control Verbal Commands Less Force Officer Presence Source: http://www.policetest.info/FORCE_CONTINUUM_POLICE_USE_OF_FORCE.htm Works cited: Strack, Lorr M.1994. Personality profile of police candidates. Journal of Clinical Psychology; 50(2):200-7. www.pubmed.gov. _____ Police culture and behavior. Accessed March 12, 2008. file:///G:/A%20POLICE/Police%20Culture.htm American Civil Liberties Union. On the Line: Police Brutality and its remedies. New York. April 1991. Retrieved March 12, 2008 http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14614pub19971201.html _______ Police Oral Boards and Use of Force Continuum. Retrieved March 12, 2008 http://www.policetest.info/FORCE_CONTINUUM_POLICE_USE_OF_FORCE.htm

Analysis Of Blood Smears

Analysis Of Blood Smears The aims of this experiment are to study the morphology and characteristic of blood; distinguish the disproportion of blood when suffering from different diseases and identified the differences between animal and human blood. To achieve the aims, smears of horse blood are prepared and compare with human blood. Then the prepared human blood smears are observed under electron microscope. INTRODUCTION Blood performs a lot of important functions within the body; it contributes homeostasis to the body and playing major role in defence system by phagocytises activity. On an average male adult who weights 70kg has a blood volume of about 5 litres, about 1/12th of the body weight. Blood consists 55% of blood plasma 45% of hematocrit in men, 58% blood plasma and 42% of hematocrit in women. Hematocrit packed with erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets (Sherwood 2010). Erythrocytes are the most abundant blood cells with about 4-6 millions/mm3 in blood. Erythrocytes are commonly known as red blood cells. In mammalian, erythrocytes are free of nucleus to allow more room for haemoglobin and are biconcave in shape. Hence, vertebrates erythrocytes have a nucleus. Haemoglobin is the main contained in erythrocytes; it carries oxygen to the tissues, collects and transports the unwanted carbon dioxide away, conveys nutritive substances like amino acids, sugars and mineral then gathers the waste materials that want to eliminated through the renal filter, carries hormones, enzymes and also vitamins to their sites of action (Sherwood 2010). Leukocytes or white blood cells are much less abundant than red blood cells but bigger in size. They responsible for the defence of organism or eliminate harmful foreign material and make up the immune system of the body. The density of leukocytes in the blood is 5000-7000/mm3. There are two categories of leukocytes which are granulocytes and agranulocytes. Granulocytes is due to the presence of granules in cytoplasm and agranulocytes is the absent of granule in the cytoplasm. The granules are difference in different types of granulocytes and make it easier to distinguish among them. The granulocytes distinguish themselves as neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil. Agranulocytes distinguish themselves as lymphocytes and monocytes. Beside of the granules, shape of the nucleus help in recognition of leukocytes (Underwood 2004). The proportion of neutrophil amongst leukocytes is about 50-70%. Its main function is phagocytes bacteria and always present in large amount within the pus of wound. Unfortunately, these cells dead after phagocytes due to unable to renew the lysosomes that used in digesting microbes. Well, eosinophils only 2-4% amongst leukocytes, they attack parasites and phagocytes antigen-antibody complexes. Basophil is 0.5-1%, it secrete anti-coagulant and vasodilator substances as histamines and serotonin. It takes part in phagocyte activity but the main function is secreting substances that mediate the hypersensitivity reaction. Lymphocyte own 20-40% proportion of leukocytes, its little cell that compact with round nucleus. Lymphocytes populate the lymphoid tissues (Bajanowski 1997), lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, lymphoid nodules, and palatine tonsils) as well as the lymph that circulate in the lymphatic vessel (Underwood 2004). Monocytes cooperate in immune defence although they are only 3-8% of leukocytes volume and its the precursors of macrophages (Sherwood 2010). They are large blood cells, which mature in the bone marrows before enter to the blood circulation and they only stay for 24-36 hours then will migrate into the connective tissue, where they become macrophages and move within the tissues. Monocytes migrate very rapidly to site if presence of an inflammation and intense phagocytory activity. Beside phagocytory activity, monocytes involve in secreting lysozime, interfereons and other defensive substances (Underwood 2004). Platelets or thrombocytes are fragments of cells in the blood with diameter about 2-3ÂÂ µm; hence they are much smaller than erythrocytes. Their density in the blood is only 200000-300000/mm3. They are responsible for blood clotting to prevent blood loss from broken vessels. The blood vessel constricts to reduce blood flow and loss. Platelets then aggregate at the point of the broken vessel and produce a plug to stop blood loss. To this purpose, they aggregate and release serotonin to reduce the diameter of lesion vessel and slow down the haematic flux to promote the blood coagulation (Sherwood 2010). Plasma is the most abundant liquid component of blood with a yellowish colour. It makes up approximately 55% of total blood volume. Plasma is alkaline and it functional to maintains the pH of the blood at approximately 7.4. It also maintains the osmotic balance of body cells. The composition of plasma is 90% water and 10% of dry matter like glucose, lipids, protein, glycoprotein, hormones, amino acids and vitamins (Sherwood 2010). The morphology and characteristics of blood will be study by preparing the horse blood smears samples that with and without stained. Blood smears stained by haematoxylin and eosin are easier to identify under microscope during this experiment. Blood smears of different pathologies will be investigated and identified by taking noted the numbers of cells present, shape and sizes of different types of cells and remark with drawing. METHODS First part of this experiment involved preparation of horse blood smear samples. A small drop of horse blood is placed at one end of a slide and placed a cover slip at the edge of the blood then dragged gently through the slide in order to produce a thin blood smears. The blood smear needs to be essentially thin until the blood is hardly visible; this is to ensure that individual cells were easily determined. If the smear appear red that mean it is not thin enough or too thick, this may be hard to observe through the microscope and do the cells count as packed cells is hard to see clearly under microscope. Second slides are prepared by using exactly the same way as the first one. Both slides placed immediately into a container containing ethanol for 2 minutes. Ethanol is a colourless substance and used as a fixative, it helps to preserve cell smear samples so that cells do not denature. It does not damage the cells at all, just helps to maintain them for analysis. After the use of ethanol, the slide then dried by just slanting it on a piece of tissue. Dap and rubs are not allowed, as it will destroy the thin film of smear. The unstained smear was considered ready for analysis. It was placed a side waiting for investigation progress. The second remaining slide then stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Haematoxylin is widely used in medical diagnosis; it is a blue substance stain that used to stained nuclei of cells into blue or purple colour. The nuclear staining is followed by other structures of the cells bodies with eosin stain that stain the granules of the cytoplasm in shades of red, pink and orange. Stained process performed by dipped the slide in a staining container containing haematoxylin for 2 minutes and rinse gently with water followed by dipped in another staining container containing eosin for 30 seconds and again rinse gently with water. A drop of mountant is applied on the smear and then covered with a glass coverslip. Mountant is a medium used for mounting a slid for microscopy purposes. The staining times varied slightly because the specimen was leave in the haematoxylin longer when the colour looks pale or pink and leave in the eosin for longer when it looks very dark blue. Both slides are completed and viewed under microscope. Unstained and stained smears were then observed under the microscope initiate by x10 magnification to find the cells and upgraded to higher definition of x40 magnification for details observation. Observation started with stained smears followed by unstained smears, as stained smears is easier to determine the cells. Both smears were drawn accordingly and labelled all the particular structures of interest. Commend are made upon on how the stained smear differs from unstained smear. In second part of the experiment, human blood smears are observed. Stained human blood smears taken from patients who suffer from no known pathology, sickle cell anaemia, eosinophilia, acute lymphocytic leukaemia and iron deficiency anaemia were observed. A textbook includes of brief description and expectation of what to see from the pathological blood smears are provided during the practical. In this session, each slide provided is observed under microscope. Always started with x10 magnification and moved to x40 magnification while drawing. First, normal human blood smear is observed in order to identified elements in normal blood, then go onto the pathology smears and compared found morphology that identified in horse blood in part A. The cellular elements of each smear were drawn, labelled and recorded any differences observed in pathological smears when compared to normal blood smears. The relative numbers of each cell type are counted. RESULTS: Part A: Horse blood smears Figure 1 illustrated stained horse blood smear under microscope of x40 magnification. The blood cells are stained with haematoxylin and eosin. One monocyte, one small lymphocyte, one neutrophil and bundle of erythrocytes (red blood cells) are seen. Nuclei of the leukocytes were purple-blue in colour due to the haematoxylin staining and the cytoplasm of the leukocytes appeared pink due to eosin staining. The erythrocytes are more abundant compared with leukocytes. Renown, erythrocytes are boconcave disc that absent of nuclei and mitochondria. Figure 2 shows the unstained horse blood smear. The blood cells appeared to be transparent and hard to determine the differences between the erythrocytes and most of the leukocytes except monocyte, as it is greater in size. Part B: Human blood smears Figure 3 shows the human blood smear with no known pathology. Erythrocytes, leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, basophil) and platelets are presented. The smear make out with more abundant of erythrocytes (R.B.C) than leukocytes and they all appeared healthy. The leukocytes were blue-purple in colour surrounded by numerous erythrocytes that were pinkish in colour. Most of the leukocytes seen are neutrophils; this proves the theory stated leukocytes making up with 50-70% of neutrophils. The neutrophils were intermediate in size, lymphocyte was smaller and monocyte was larger. Their cytoplasm appeared pink in colour. The nucleus of neutrophil lobed with clumps of chromatin. Figure 4 shows human blood smear with sickle cells anaemia. Abnormal red blood cell morphology and sickle cells are seen. Figure 5 shows human blood smear with eosinophilia deficiency. Abnormal or sickle red blood cells appeared. Eosinophil and monocytes are broken. Several of smudge cells presented. Figure 6 shows the blood smear for acute lymphocytic leukaemia. The erythrocytes are not as densely pack as in the smear of human blood with no pathology. This observation clearly illustrated the presented of several lymphocytes in the smear and it appeared larger than erythrocytes. Where acute lymphocytic leukaemia is a blood cancer where the body produces a large numbers of lymphocytes. Figure 7 shows the smear for human iron deficiency anaemia. The erythrocytes are pallor in appearance. Some of the erythrocytes were larger in size. Besides that, smudge cells and different types of leukocytes seen in this smear. There are lymphocytes that small in size and also neutrophils. DISCUSSION Many diseases, disorders, and deficiencies can distinguish by observation of blood cells distribution and appearances (Bain 2005). Disproportionate numbers of leukocytes, presence of immature leukocytes, too high or too low of platelets counts, and deformed of red blood cells are all signs of serious diseases. Somehow, blood smear provides the primary evidence of a specific diagnosis. Monocytes of horse blood smear in fig. 1 are greater in size compare with human blood smear in fig.3. The comprehensive kinetic force between erythrocytes of horse blood is stronger and produced closely attached long chain of erythrocytes. The erythrocytes in fig.1 and 3 appeared normal, uniformed in size and do not have a nucleus as most other cells do. They are round and flattened like a donut with a depression in the middle. Due high density of haemoglobin presented inside the erythrocytes (Sherwood 2010), they appear pink to red in colour with a pale centre. While there are some erythrocytes in fig. 4, 5, 6 and 7 had significant different in shape and irregularities that indicate severe problems. The histological section with stained are more visible and can be noted that the nuclei of the cells appeared purple-blue with stained of haematoxylin (Bain 2005); cytoplasm appeared pinkish with stained of eosin. Unstained leukocytes are colourless and hard to determine as they lack haemoglobin (Bain 2005). The stains enhanced the illustration of the leukocytes and make it easier to distinguish. Granulocytes and agranulocytes were differentiated by observed their cytoplasm. Granulocytes are neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil that has granule in their cytoplasm and its cytoplasm is visible when staining, while agranulocytes are lymphocytes and monocytes that absents of granule in their cytoplasm where their cytoplasm appeared transparent although stained. Neutrophils are cells that have cytoplasm with pink granules, intermediate in size with lobed clumped nucleus, can be identified by observing their nuclei; their nuclei are segmented into 2-5 lobed of different shapes. They composed majority of leukocytes and function to phagocytosis . Eosinophils will easily recognize with their large, red-orange granules. Unfortunately, they arent found from the smears because they are generally low in number. Eosinophils most often become elevated in number when the individual are facing with allergies or parasitic infections. Basophils (figure 1) had large black granules and least often seen from the smears as they are only 1% of leukocytes. Increased numbers of basophiles are not often encountered but may be elevated in certain leukaemia, chicken pox, ulcerative colitis, or after an immunization. Monocytes are the largest cell amongst leukocytes with diameter of 12-20 ÂÂ µm and are often referred as phagocytes. They engulf particles such as cellular debris and bacteria. LHYPERLINK javascript: optionsdisplay(../../../glossary/lymphocyte.html)ymphocytes are smaller and have a homogeneous cytoplasm and a smooth, round nucleus. These cells are responsible for the production of antibodies or immunoglobulin (Bajanowski 1997). There are two types of lymphocytes, B and T cells and they mediated within each other. B cells induce production of antibodies; T cells destroy specific cells (Bajanowski 1997). Figure 4 illustrated human sickle cell anaemia. Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) affects millions of people worldwide (Charlotte 2010). SCA is disorders of erythrocytes that caused difficulty to haemoglobin molecules when delivers oxygen to cells throughout the body (Peterson 2009). The change of the amino acid results in haemoglobin that responds to the oxygen deficiency by stacking filaments and clustering in red blood cells containing the mutated protein in such a way that their shape is distorted (Sherwood 2010). Eosinophil usually hardly noticeable in blood smears indicates the response of the body to abnormal cells, parasites, or substances that cause an allergic reaction. Donor of the blood smear illustrated in figure 5 may have eosinophilia disorder as broken eosinophil is presented. Eosinophilia is commonly happened to people who have asthma, hay fever, food allergic or parasitic infections such as intestinal worms (Sherwood 2010). In the acute lymphocytic leukemia sample shown in figure 6, there was a noticeable increase in the number of lymphocytes seen. The erythrocytes are pallor and lymphocytes appeared larger than erythrocytes and this is due to a disease of lymphoid cells causing uncontrolled production of lymphocytes (Underwood 2004). Acute lymphocytic leukaemia is a disease where the physical changes take place within the cell (McClain 1990), a reduced count of red blood cells with a raised level of leukocytes. This may leads to an accumulation of blast cells in the bone marrow and causes bone marrow failure (McClain 1990). All the red blood cells in the iron deficiency anaemia sample appeared pale in colour. This usually caused to people with poor diet that contains little iron especially vegetariansbecause the main dietary source of ion is red meat. Besides that, diseases of the small intestine such as gluten intolerance can reduce its ability to absorb iron (Sherwood 2010).

Graduation Speech: We Can Be Heroes -- Graduation Speech, Commencemen

Class of 2012, as we sit here this evening, I would like you to take a look at the classmates sitting around you. Many students have given countless hours of time, energy, and passion to worthy cuases that they have been a part of throughout high school. However, those aren't the only students deserving of recognition this evening. We have students here tonight, who have taken a stand for what they believe in, not even hesitating to compromise their reputations. I believe there are many ordinary heroes wearing caps and gowns tonight. Many of you are heroes because you challenge yourselves to be more accepting of those around you. Some of you heroes woke up every day and came to school with the desire to reach out to those hurting and in need of a friend. Other heroes went the extra mile to make someone feel important, encouraging them and offering hope they may not otherwise have experienced. One of our deepest needs as humans is to be valued. The need to be needed is often more powerful than the need to survive. Every one of us has a deep longing to write our signature on the world. As individuals, we are each equipped with unique gifts and talents to share with our family, our community, and our world. Nelson Mandela once said, "As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." When we open ourselves to become all that we were created to be, we allow those around us to be themselves, empowering them to be a unique individual and to use the talents they possess. It doesn't matter if we are brilliant, beautiful, or incredibly charismatic. We can make a difference by just being who we are. We simpl... ...ctivities, while encouraging us to be our best. These acts of love and many more are what make you our heroes. Class of 2012, I challenge you to recognize the heroes in your life, and continue to be heroes yourselves. Author Charles Swindoll said, "We need heroes. I mean genuine heroes, authentic men and women who are admired for their achievements, noble qualities, and courage. Such people aren't afraid to be different. They risk. They stand a cut above." Swindoll's message speaks so highly of those who are heroes and those who have the potential to be heroes. So, here is my challenge to you. Rise above your fears, take risks, and don't let your abilities collect dust. Instead, live life passionately, dream big, and seek every day in ways small and large to write your signature on the planet. But be careful ... you may just empower someone else to do the same.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Essay

Response to Prompt 1 In the novel Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Henrietta had cells removed from a tumor on her cervix without her knowledge or consent. Henrietta’s family also had no idea that the cells were being removed or the advances they would soon make in medical research. What the doctors and researchers did not realize is that in taking the cells from Henrietta, they were degrading the family and violating her dignity. By definition, dignity is â€Å"nobility or elevation of character; worthiness†. (â€Å"Dignity†) When George Grey took the cells from Henrietta, he was not considering her dignity or her worthiness. He was considering the benefits for himself and for medical research. At the end of chapter eight, we learn that Grey had never visited Henrietta while she was sick. Grey would receive the cells from an assistant and keep doing his research, almost as if the cells did not come from a living, breathing human being. â€Å"There is no record that George Grey ever visited Henrietta in the hospital, or said anything to her about her cells. And everyone I talked to who might know said that Grey and Henrietta never met. Everyone, that is, except Laure Aurelian, a microbiologist who was Grey’s colleague at Hopkins.† (page 66) By Grey never visiting Henrietta, he violated her dignity. As a patient, white or black, she deserved to meet the man that was taking her DNA and sending it to other laboratories for more research. Today, that would be illegal. But back in 1950, it was acceptable. Additionally, the doctors and researchers at John Hopkins violated Henrietta’s dignity by keeping critical information from her and the family about her cancer and the removal of her cells. If Henrietta had been given the right to know her diagnosis and treatment options, she could have made a more informed decision, thereby maintaining her dignity. â€Å"There’s no indication that Henrietta questioned him; like most patients in the 1950s, she deferred to anything doctors said. This was a time when â€Å"benevolent deception† was a common practice – doctors often withheld even the most  fundamental information from their patients, sometimes not giving them a diagnosis at all.† (page 63) Black people were given less opportunities to demand their dignity, and Henrietta was no exception. And when it came to white doctor’s treatment of black patients, the same rules applied. â€Å"This was 1951 in Baltimore, segregation was law, and it was understood that black people didn’t question white people’s professional judgement† (page 63)

Discuss Nick Hornby s presentation of Marcus in chapters 1-10 of ‘About a Boy’ Essay

Nick Hornby’s novel, ‘About a boy’ is a story about two boys. A 12 year old, named Marcus, who has a suicidal mother. And a 36 year old child-like-man called Will Freeman. Will, has never worked in his life, he was been living of the royalties of a song that his father had wrote for Christmas, over 70 years ago. Marcus is very much a ‘mummy’s boy.’ He is so close to his mother that his taste in music and clothes are identical. When he starts his new school, he realises that he is an easy target for bullies as his hair is cut ‘dodgy’ by his mum and he has a tendency to sing aloud in class†¦. When we see Marcus in chapter one, we see a naive teenager. On the very first page of the book, Marcus’ mum Fiona suffers from a break up. â€Å"Have you spilt up now?† This very quote shows the naivete of Marcus. This childish questions, suggest that Marcus has not developed any level of maturity and has no means of comforting his mother. However, with this in mind, Marcus has a very logical way of thinking, and there are there are two valid reasons for this bold statement. When we do see the break up incident, Marcus realises that when people begin to do things together (almost like a family) they should gel and stay together. â€Å"He’d once shared a toilet with Roger, when they were both busting for a pee after a car journey. You’d think that if you’d peed with someone you ought to keep in touch with them somehow.† This logical thinking by Marcus suggest that he had thought about future with his mum and Roger, and that Roger would stay because of the family relationship that they all shared. The second reason why I believe he has a logical process is the pizza incident happens. When the break up argument began, they had just orders three pizzas. As we know Marcus and Fiona are ‘vegetarians’, but Roger wasn’t, so one of the pizza contained peperoni. â€Å"We’ll throw it away then?† Fiona suggests, but Marcus being Marcus, he promotes that they should â€Å"Pick the peperoni off.† This suggests that instead of throwing away a perfectly good pizza, Marcus thinks that they can still eat the pizza without the peperoni topping. Although Marcus is still very naive, we see a very different side of Marcus on the very past page of chapter 1. He is very protective of his mum. When they have fished eating and arguing, Marcus finds the TV remote and â€Å"Zapped through the channels. He didn’t want to watch any of the soaps, because soaps were full of trouble, and he was worried that the trouble in the soaps would remind his mum of the trouble she had in her own life.† This quote suggests that because of his mother’s break up’s and troubles, he did not want the TV reminding her of anything, which really shows how protective he is over his mother. Marcus has just moved house, which unfortunately means he starts a new school. In the first few chapters, we see life for Marcus in school, and it wasn’t going to be easy. He is different from his peers. There times in the book, which really shows how apart he is from everyone. Firstly, he arrives for school. EARLY. Not a typical act from a teenager. â€Å"He got to school early, went to the form room, sat down at his desk.† This is one of vey first examples, of why he is very different. Not many teenagers would willingly want to come to school early. The way he dresses, and the way he looks is another issue. â€Å"He was usually wearing the wrong shoes or the wrong trousers, and his haircut was wrong all the time.† This would mean that he would be an easy target for bullies. However, worst is still to come. â€Å"A song had slipped out yesterday during English.† When he had an English lesson, Marcus unexpectedly sang a song whilst the teacher was reading. As a kid, this really ‘sealed the deal’ for Marcus. Luckily, Marcus had found a few friends who were also outsiders like him. They were Nicky and Mark. Marcus meet them by an after school computer club. However, their relationship with each other was very timid. â€Å"He was being left out deliberately† Marcus was waiting his turn on the Gameboy, at this point in the book. Although he hasn’t done anything wrong, he was still singled out. Suddenly, things to a turn for the worse for their relationship. At lunchtime, a few bullies, who had been tormenting Marcus before, came up to Marcus and his friends, and began insulting them. When they had gone, Mark spoke out and said. â€Å"Marcus, we don’t want you hanging around with us anymore.† This shocked Marcus. He knew that if they were to hang out with him, they would all get bullied. These so called ‘friends’ that Marcus had, had been unsupportive and nothing like Marcus. This shows how different Marcus really is; he cannot fit in with people who are so similar to him. As have mentioned before, Marcus is overprotective over his mum, because of their closeness and the strong relationship they have. In the fifth chapter, we see Marcus worrying about his mother. This is caused by the constant crying habit his mom has developed. This had frightened him. â€Å"One Monday morning his mother started crying before breakfast, and it frightened him.† In this scenario in the book, Marcus understands that his mum is going through a tough time but he does not know what to say or do. â€Å"He didn’t know what to say.† So instead, when we went for his weekly shop, he stuck to the ‘economy sized packets of cereal, because he knew that is he had brought banded name, then his mum would be angry. This again shows how protective he is over his mum. With this in mind, he had realised that there was â€Å"an advantage of her terrible depression.† Without her knowing he bought the branded ‘Coco-Pops.† This shows that he was still taking advantage out of his mother’s sadness. In the final few page of chapter 7 we see an intense moment between Marcus and Fiona. Marcus finally confronts Fiona about her constant depression and the fact the she hasn’t been looking after him. â€Å"All you do is make my meals and I could do that. The rest of the time you just cry. That’s†¦ that’s no good. That’s no good to me.† This shows that Fiona does not know how to look after a child. However, Marcus does not help or resolve the matter; instead he heads off to his room. â€Å"He went upstairs to his room and played NBA Basketball with the earphones on.† This shows a level of immaturity and a certain lack of social skill. Fiona claims that â€Å"we’re not doing each other any good† to Marcus. This again is more evidence to prove that Fiona simply cannot look after Marcus. When we see Will in chapter eight, he describes Marcus as being â€Å"the weird kid.† Will thinks this about Marcus because of the way he acts. For example, when they were at the back of a car together, Marcus began ‘humming tunelessly’. This would not be a normal act performed by a teenager, and this led Will into believing he is strange. There is more evidence for Will to believe Marcus is weird. â€Å"‘You know Michael Jackson, right? He makes a million pounds a minute,’ said the weird kid.† When Marcus said this, Will thought he was making things up, which again led Will to believing he is weird. At the park, Marcus accidently killed a duck in the lake. In this part of the book, Marcus changes his mind about Will in a matter of minutes, from despising him, and then realising that he was one his side. â€Å"Who did this Will think he was?† Will was trying to be sarcastic about the matter, but Marcus, did not find it funny. Then, all of a sudden â€Å"Marcus looked up at him; maybe he didn’t hate him after all.† Will then made the incident look like it had affected them in front of the park-keeper. Marcus had changed his view about him, in a flash, without him doing anything. All of this suggests that Marcus has mixed opinions on will, on moment he is the hero, and the next he is just a stranger, In chapter nine, we sadly see a suicide attempt from Fiona. The events leading up to this moment, is very intense. On the day of the suicide attempt, Marcus is at Regent Park for a picnic with Suzie and Will. Whilst Will and Suzie were talking, Marcus was feeding the ducks, with loaf hard bread that Fiona had made, he had then accidently thrown the whole loaf in to the lake and a killed a duck. Hence the ‘Dead duck day.’ All of a sudden Marcus could see Fiona across the lake waving and smiling at him, he turned around to tell Suzie but when he looked back she was gone. â€Å"It was then that Marcus saw-or thought he saw-his mum. She was standing in front of them, blocking the path, and she was smiling. He waved and turned around to tell Suzie that she’d turned up, but when he looked back his mum wasn’t there.† This part of the book is based on symbolism. I think it represents symbolism because there is a link between what happened with the Dead duck and the fact that she was there, meant that it was a way of saying bye to Marcus. It was almost like a premonition for Marcus, that something was about to happen. â€Å"A new part of his life began, bang, without any warning at all.† When I saw this part in the book, it really surprised me. I wasn’t aware of how Fiona was so depressed, that caused her to a terrible act like this. As a reader, I would say that Fiona’s depressions was only recognised as just her crying most the time, I was not sure she would have gone to that greater length, and commit suicide. It is obvious that Marcus was hit hard by the fact that his mother had committed suicide. At the end of chapter nine, it reads â€Å"he knew the moment he walked in that it was something he’d have to think about forever.† At this point in the book, we see Marcus’ character really open out. This continues as we read on. When they reach the hospital, Marcus is in the waiting room, reflecting on other people troubles and compares this to his mum. â€Å"My mum’s not like these people. Supposing they think she is, though?† he believes that the hospital might treat her as being just a normal druggy.

The Phonogram WH

The Phonogram WH The Phonogram WH The Phonogram WH By Maeve Maddox A reader commenting on Wile vs While wrote: Modern speakers and writers have a problem with W words such as while and wile (another example: whale, wale, and wail) because there is no longer a distinction made between the way wh and w are pronounced. Not all American speakers distinguish between the sounds of whine and wine, but many still do. There are advantages to teaching the distinction, even in regions where the difference has been lost in the local dialect. Wh represents the sound one makes when blowing out a candle: [wh]. The number of English words that begin with wh is not large, and even speakers who distinguish between the initial sounds of Wales and whales do not pronounce wh as [wh] in every word that begins with the wh spelling. For speakers of dialects that still distinguish between the pronunciation of which and witch, the following words begin with the aspirated sound [wh]: whack whale wharf what wheat wheel wheeze when where whet whether which whiff Whig while whim whimper whip whirl whisk whisker whisky whisper whit white whoop why In the following words, the spelling wh represents the sound [h]. who whom whole whose wholly whore What linguists call the â€Å"wine-whine merger† is no doubt destined to prevail in the United States. Nevertheless, teaching the aspirated sound of wh is an aid to spelling mastery. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Spelling category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:12 Types of LanguageWhat is Dative Case?50 Plain-Language Substitutions for Wordy Phrases

Grace Dawson Artist or Pornographer essays

Grace Dawson Artist or Pornographer essays Grace Dawson: Artist or Pornographer? Mountmonk College has always held very high standards for students and staff. Mountmonk likes to consider themselves better than the other schools at maintaining principles of traditional values as the alumni has done in the past. As the school nears its alumni weekend, we must take into consideration these values, as well as changes in the times as we decide about use of the auditorium for the weekend. Last semester there was an art contest held for the students. All ribbon winning art is scheduled to be displayed in the auditorium during the alumni weekend. One of our students, Grace Dawson, is a photographer and is planning to show one of her photographs in the auditorium over the weekend. Her photograph is of a naked woman kneeling on the ground with a man in a suit kicking her while a naked man watches. We have objections to the display of her art from both the Womens Center and the Director of Alumni Relations . They feel her art is repugnant due to its explicit sexual content and fear that the alumni may withdraw contributions. Grace Dawson argues in her own defense that her photograph is artwork and should be exhibited. She entered this and several other photographs in the Student Art Contest last semester and won a ribbon for honorable mention. She feels that her art deserves to be displayed with the rest of the ribbon winners. Grace Dawson has been unfairly singled out. She insists that she has the right to free speech under the First Amendment and her artwork is a form of protected speech. She should not be, and cannot be, denied the right to freedom of expression even if her expressions are Although we can immediately see that some of the alumni might be offended by the nature of the photos, we must look beyond that to the bigger and more important ...

Art Of Irony in The Story of An Hour

Art Of Irony in 'The Story of An Hour' In The Story of An Hour, Kate Chopin uses a variety of literary devices ranging from third person narration, juxtaposition and irony to vividly illustrate the dramatic process of grievance, and alternately liberation, that Mrs. Mallard experiences under the impression that her husband has died. In the beginning of the short story, Chopin attempts to extend inklings to the reader of what is later to come in the story through the assertion that â€Å"Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble,† and that the other characters, her sister Josephine specifically, would â€Å"break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.† It might be perceived that Chopin’s intentions were to foreshadow Mrs. Mallard having a heart failure in response to the traumatic news if it were not delivered delicately. Chopin depicts Mrs. Mallard as a fragile being whom would be shattered both physically and emotionally when given the news of her husband’s death. Chopin then toys along with this predictable reaction describing Mrs. Mallard as to have â€Å"wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment,† similar to how a â€Å"child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.† The use of such kinetic word composition and the comparison of Mrs. Mallard to that of a sobbing child portrays her as an emotionally obliterated, feeble woman – entirely devastated, the exact reaction Chopin had foreshadowed early on. Chopin then implements juxtaposition and irony when describing Mrs. Mallard’s feelings subsequent of her devastation. Up until this point in the story, all of Mrs. Mallard’s actions are seemingly natural. The reader would think it reasonable for a woman to be emotionally rattled at the news of her husband’s death, however Chopin twists this seemingly predictable narrative on its head by now revealing a sense of liberation in Mrs. Mallard. To initiate this shift in mood, Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard gazing at the sky not in â€Å"a glance of reflection,† however a glance which â€Å"indicated a suspension of intelligent thought,† and this described â€Å"suspension of intelligent thought† puts a pause on Mrs. Mallard’s remorseful thoughts and serves as a gateway into her newfound freedom. Chopin further describes the positive ascension of Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts through the phrases â€Å"her bosom rose and fell tumultuously,† while whispering, â€Å"free, free, free,† â€Å"over and over under her breath.† Through this description, Chopin seems to reinvent Mrs. Mallard in an almost evil way as she is finding peace within her husband’s death. A reader might associate Mrs. Mallard’s â€Å"tumultuous† chest movements and repetition of a single word with the clich?, evil, methodical laugh of a villainous character that rises in richness at the expense of another (the laugh then commensurate to Mrs. Mallard’s happiness at the expense of her husband’s life). Chopin has recreated Mrs. Mallard in a way that makes her seemingly selfish in that she has achieved contentment through the death of her husband when the orthodox reaction should be a sense of remorse. Chopin therefore creates irony in two ways: one through the juxtaposition of how Mrs. Mallard should feel and how she actually feels and the other being how Mrs. Mallard achieves emotional uplift through an inherently wrong (according to societal expectation) response to the situation. Referring back to the potential foreshadowing in the beginning of story, Chopin seems to create a full circle effect at the end of the story. The very last line of Chopin’s short story proclaims that â€Å"she (Mrs. Mallard) had died of heart disease – of the joy that kills.† This ending serves as a full circle ending as it ties Chopin’s beginning statement, â€Å"Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble,† to the end of the story: Mrs. Mallard’s death via heart failure. The irony then amounts from the cause of Mrs. Mallard’s heart failure. Chopin has illustrated the story so that the reader knows Mrs. Mallard’s heart failure is from the negative shock of knowing her husband is alive while the characters in the story believe Mrs. Mallard’s heart failure is from positive shock, hence â€Å"the joy that kills.† This irony and juxtaposition of what actually happened and what is perceived to have happened (by the characters in the story) is made entirely possible through Chopin’s choice of third person narration. Through third person narration, Chopin exposes both sides of the situation: Mrs. Mallard’s internal thoughts, her feelings of liberation and freedom, and the external thoughts of the other characters, the feelings that Mrs. Mallard is desolate. By divulging the juxtaposing views to the reader, Chopin creates an ironic dichotomy. Through this ironic dichotomy, the reader gleans the unadulterated truth of Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death thus establishing a personal relationship between the reader and the character of Mrs. Mallard, all of which Chopin uses as a strategy to effectively illustrate Mrs. Mallard’s emotional development throughout the story.

Ecology Of Long Island Sound Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 15000 words

Ecology Of Long Island Sound - Essay Example From this discussion it is clear that  ecology is the scientific study of the interrelationships of plants, animals, and the environment. In recent years, the word has sometimes been misused as a synonym for environment. The principles of ecology are useful in many aspects of the related fields of conservation, wildlife management, forestry, agriculture, and pollution control. The word ecology  is generally believed to have been coined by Ernst HAECKEL, who used and defined it in 1869. The historical roots of ecology lie not only in natural history, but in physiology, oceanography, and evolution as well. It has occasionally been called scientific natural history because of its origin and its heavy reliance on measurement and mathematics. Ecology is variously divided into terrestrial ecology, fresh-water ecology, and marine ecology, or into population ecology, community ecology, and ecosystem ecology. Thus while assessing the impact of human intrusion or activities on Long Island Sound’s ecology; all of the above intrinsic aspects of the definition of the ecology need to be kept in mind.  This paper outlines that  many areas, on the globe, are reported to be in state of ecological and environmental neglect and the impact of such neglect have been documented variedly in the literature as Khoshoo states, with support from the literature, â€Å"Today we are faced with both positive and negative impacts of past development which should put us on guard for the future with regard to the limits of growth and development.... In general, a place has such a character or 'atmosphere'. A place is therefore a qualitative, 'total' phenomenon, which we cannot reduce to any of its properties, such as spatial relationships, without losing its concrete nature" (Norberg-Schulz 1979, 8).For example, Canter (1977) described place as the intersection of a setting's physical characteristics, a person's individual perceptions, and the actions or uses that occur in a particular location (cf. Bonnes and Secchiaroli 1995, 170-174; Pretty et al. 2003). Place has been described as the point where the setting's physical and cultural characteristics meld with the individual's affective perceptions and functional needs (Bott 2000)". Before one could begin the study of the impact of human activities on the ecology of a region; it must be clear as to what is implied by the term ecology. Ecology is the scientific study of the interrelationships of plants, animals, and the environment. In recent years, the word has sometimes been misused as a synonym for environment. The principles of ecology are useful in many aspects of the related fields of conservation, wildlife management, forestry, agriculture, and pollution control. The word ecology (Greek, oikos, "house," and logos, "study of") is generally believed to have been coined by Ernst HAECKEL, who used and defined it in 1869. The historical roots of ecology lie not only in natural history, but in physiology, oceanography, and evolution as well. It has occasionally been called scientific natural history (a phrase originated by Charles ELTON) because of its origin and its heavy reliance on measurement and mathematics. Ecology is variously divided into terrestrial ec ology,

Legal Status of Comfort Letters in South Africa Essay

Legal Status of Comfort Letters in South Africa - Essay Example According to the report in the Kleinworth Benson case, the court said that in order to determine whether the comfort letter created an enforceable obligation on the part of the maker or issuer, legal construction of the words or language used in the comfort letter should be made. If the words or language strongly suggest that the comfort letter is promissory in nature which is evident on the face of the letter itself, the maker or issuer is obliged to perform an obligation under the comfort letter. In this case, the court held that the comfort letter is not enforceable because the terms only represented it was the â€Å"practice† of the company to provide financial support and with no indication in the letter that the policy would continue in the future.From this paper it is clear that  if the maker or issuer does not intend to be binded by the comfort letter, he or she must include a disclaimer or a clear statement on the face of the letter that he or she does not intend to give rise to any legal obligation whatsoever. Otherwise, in the absence of the disclaimer, the comfort letter is intended to be legally enforceable. This view somehow was utilized by a court in deciding a case in 2002 when it held that the plaintiffs’ reliance on the comfort letters was unjustifiable because the disclaimer language expressly stated that they were ‘not to be used, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred to for any purpose, including but not limited of the purchase or sale of securities†.

Watch the film on a speech by renown anti-racist activist The Essay

Watch the film on a speech by renown anti-racist activist The Pathology of White Privilege of Tim Wise - Essay Example The fair housing act was compiled in 1968 and until 1968, there were no highest number of race based housing discrimination complaints. One million Afro-Americans died to till date due to lack of heath care facilities. In the similar manner, law enforcement authorities are continuously maintains the white supremacy. Afro-Americans and Latin Americans are three times more likely suspected and checked for drugs; however, white Americans are found to have drugs four and half times more like when they are stopped. He argues that when white people see a Latin American young person driving a nice car, they would say him a drug dealer; however, if a white young person drives the similar car, people would say, â€Å"spoiled rich child†. The average white American family holds 4 times more wealth as compared to an average Black American family and 8 times more wealth as compared to average Lain American family residing in USA premises. He argues that in 1962, 1963, 90% of the White Americans argued that black Americans are receiving equal education opportunities and services but we know that the real situation at time. In 2005, 80% of the white Americans believe that black and Latin Americans are receiving equal educational rights. He argues that white Americans use the word underprivileged for the black and Latin Americans but who is then â€Å"overprivileged†. He uses the word â€Å"overprivileged† for the white Americans. He argues that if someone is down then someone must be up on him. That is the reason he is down and someone is making him down. He argues that why white American do crimes regarding racial discrimination and then escape into woods. White people give black Americans low wages as compared to white Americans. Free labor is demanded when black Americans are hired to work in fields. It is right to torture a Muslim for the act he has never done. White Americans

Cause and effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 11

Cause and effect - Essay Example Some economists believe the crisis to be a result of economic cycles which are impossible to resist. There is, however, another theory, which considers the crisis to be a result of a new policy of credit accommodation. That is also the theory the paper focuses on. Most banks and mortgage lenders offered 100 percent financing of a price for a house (or even more). As a comparison, most world banks currently finance approximately 85 percent of a price. This was a really advantageous credit for borrowers – they received an opportunity not only to buy a house, but also to renovate it. However, such a loan was quite risky for lenders. A house could have been sold only for lower price in case a borrower failed to pay the loan back. Thus, the investment becomes lossmaking. However, the number of such deals was constantly increasing. As a result, both banks and estate agencies were financed by investment banks. Another factor was that mortgage rate was not stable. It was dependent on LIBOR, the average interest rate that the average leading bank would be charged if borrowing from other banks (Bischoff & McGagh, 2012). Benefits are obvious – borrowers expected their loan interest rate to decrease in case general situation is being improving. On the other hand, lenders expected it to grow together with the percentage. Thus, mortgage-lending system of the US in 2006-2008 was dependent on LIBOR index. It was acceptable when the index was a little bit increasing or slightly decreasing, though both parties were interested in its stability. However, LIBOR index turned to be quite changeable and instable in practice. It was about 6 percent by the end of 2007. What is more, it was continuously growing. As a result, borrowers were unable to pay back their loans. Investment banks bore thumping damages. That is how the US mortgage crisis appeared. Its effects may be felt even now. That is what set off chain reaction of

Drugs and Rock&roll Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drugs and Rock&roll - Research Paper Example Rock and roll in the late 40s and 50s was mainly identified as African American music. Moreover, white middle-class youth enjoyed it immensely. These youth would go in search of dancing halls where rock and roll was the staple as the predominantly White areas would not play it. The notion that Rock and Roll music merely supports the pure expression of reality is erroneous. Since its inception in the 1950s many ‘Rock and Roll’ musicians have romanticized drug abuse and early death and have been partially responsible for the broad acceptance of psychedelic drugs in society. This scandalized their parents as they felt that White youth would inevitably adopt Black culture and mannerisms if they only listened to Black musicians. Mixing with Black people in any context was strictly forbidden in the 50s in the United States. The rock and roll beat, which was so intriguing, was viewed by the older generation of Americans as being similar to the primitive rhythms which originated in Africa. What was especially frightening for the parents of this era is that they could not seem to be able to stop their children from liking this new and foreign music. There were many attempts to quell the ‘wild’ beats used in rock and roll by using mellow White singers like Pat Boone re-do songs that were originally done by Black musicians (Evans, 1998). Moreover, this did nothing to stop the popularity of rock and roll among the youth. One of the reasons why parents were so concerned with this music genre is because the Black musicians did not make any effort to hide the fact that they believed that drugs were a necessity if one was to create good music. According to some rock and roll musicians, drugs would help the musician to explore his or her inner thoughts while simultaneously escaping the limitations of real life. This would result in enhanced creativity due to better sensory perception. Government authorities in America attempted to arrest the increased abuse of drugs but were unable to stop this trend. In 1951, Alan Freed, a White disc jockey from Cleveland launched a radio show known as "Moondog Rock 'n' Roll Party,". This station would only play music that was created by Black musicians. It has been claimed that the words ‘rock and roll’ were first heard on this station. Entire neighborhoods with White populations would tune in to this station whenever it was on air. More and more White musi cians, particularly the youthful ones, began to experiment with creating music that sounded like what was heard on Alan Freed’s Moondog Rock 'n' Roll Party. Rock lyrics were not only popular because they were rhythmic, but also because they challenged the accepted rules of the mainstream society. The music motivated the youth to revolt against the social norms. At that time, it was an accepted thing that â€Å"children should be seen and not heard†. Rock music challenged this norm by encouraging every living being to seek self expression. Rock also encouraged young adults to experiment with things they were unsure of, such as drugs, in order to establish for sure that they were not good. Hollywood culture took advantage of this misunderstanding caused by, among other things, the generation gap and started to generate documents claiming to â€Å"

Watch the film on a speech by renown anti-racist activist The Essay

Watch the film on a speech by renown anti-racist activist The Pathology of White Privilege of Tim Wise - Essay Example The fair housing act was compiled in 1968 and until 1968, there were no highest number of race based housing discrimination complaints. One million Afro-Americans died to till date due to lack of heath care facilities. In the similar manner, law enforcement authorities are continuously maintains the white supremacy. Afro-Americans and Latin Americans are three times more likely suspected and checked for drugs; however, white Americans are found to have drugs four and half times more like when they are stopped. He argues that when white people see a Latin American young person driving a nice car, they would say him a drug dealer; however, if a white young person drives the similar car, people would say, â€Å"spoiled rich child†. The average white American family holds 4 times more wealth as compared to an average Black American family and 8 times more wealth as compared to average Lain American family residing in USA premises. He argues that in 1962, 1963, 90% of the White Americans argued that black Americans are receiving equal education opportunities and services but we know that the real situation at time. In 2005, 80% of the white Americans believe that black and Latin Americans are receiving equal educational rights. He argues that white Americans use the word underprivileged for the black and Latin Americans but who is then â€Å"overprivileged†. He uses the word â€Å"overprivileged† for the white Americans. He argues that if someone is down then someone must be up on him. That is the reason he is down and someone is making him down. He argues that why white American do crimes regarding racial discrimination and then escape into woods. White people give black Americans low wages as compared to white Americans. Free labor is demanded when black Americans are hired to work in fields. It is right to torture a Muslim for the act he has never done. White Americans

Drugs and Rock&roll Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Drugs and Rock&roll - Research Paper Example Rock and roll in the late 40s and 50s was mainly identified as African American music. Moreover, white middle-class youth enjoyed it immensely. These youth would go in search of dancing halls where rock and roll was the staple as the predominantly White areas would not play it. The notion that Rock and Roll music merely supports the pure expression of reality is erroneous. Since its inception in the 1950s many ‘Rock and Roll’ musicians have romanticized drug abuse and early death and have been partially responsible for the broad acceptance of psychedelic drugs in society. This scandalized their parents as they felt that White youth would inevitably adopt Black culture and mannerisms if they only listened to Black musicians. Mixing with Black people in any context was strictly forbidden in the 50s in the United States. The rock and roll beat, which was so intriguing, was viewed by the older generation of Americans as being similar to the primitive rhythms which originated in Africa. What was especially frightening for the parents of this era is that they could not seem to be able to stop their children from liking this new and foreign music. There were many attempts to quell the ‘wild’ beats used in rock and roll by using mellow White singers like Pat Boone re-do songs that were originally done by Black musicians (Evans, 1998). Moreover, this did nothing to stop the popularity of rock and roll among the youth. One of the reasons why parents were so concerned with this music genre is because the Black musicians did not make any effort to hide the fact that they believed that drugs were a necessity if one was to create good music. According to some rock and roll musicians, drugs would help the musician to explore his or her inner thoughts while simultaneously escaping the limitations of real life. This would result in enhanced creativity due to better sensory perception. Government authorities in America attempted to arrest the increased abuse of drugs but were unable to stop this trend. In 1951, Alan Freed, a White disc jockey from Cleveland launched a radio show known as "Moondog Rock 'n' Roll Party,". This station would only play music that was created by Black musicians. It has been claimed that the words ‘rock and roll’ were first heard on this station. Entire neighborhoods with White populations would tune in to this station whenever it was on air. More and more White musi cians, particularly the youthful ones, began to experiment with creating music that sounded like what was heard on Alan Freed’s Moondog Rock 'n' Roll Party. Rock lyrics were not only popular because they were rhythmic, but also because they challenged the accepted rules of the mainstream society. The music motivated the youth to revolt against the social norms. At that time, it was an accepted thing that â€Å"children should be seen and not heard†. Rock music challenged this norm by encouraging every living being to seek self expression. Rock also encouraged young adults to experiment with things they were unsure of, such as drugs, in order to establish for sure that they were not good. Hollywood culture took advantage of this misunderstanding caused by, among other things, the generation gap and started to generate documents claiming to â€Å"

Student at Drexel University Essay Example for Free

Student at Drexel University Essay While the Philadelphia Museum of Art may not house some of the more famous artwork from the Baroque period, their acquisition of Poussin’s â€Å"Birth of Venus† was nothing short of a savvy purchase. Hungry for Western currency, the painting was sold by the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg in 1930 under the Soviet Regime to the PMA. In their possession is arguably one of the most hotly debated works from that era. Also aptly named â€Å"The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite† this painting not only highlights Poussin’s trademark ability to allow for an open interpretation of his depictions but also encourages an allegorical analysis of the many elements present in his composition. The very ambiguities of this painting, and his others, emphasizes Poussin’s capacity to express the concepts or overall ideas of things and events themselves while not concentrating on the minutia while still allowing for translation. Before one can approach an iconological interpretation of Poussin’s work, one must also understand his early training, influences and subsequent ideology to grasp his use of deep symbolism and line. In his early career working with Italian poet Giambattista Marino, Nicolas Poussin was commissioned to illustrate Ovidian poetry subsequently establishing the ideals of Metamorphoses – themes and motifs prominent in â€Å"The Birth of Venus†.[3][6] This was also important in developing his ability to intimately tie literature to painting.[1] Poussin grew to heavily favor Disegno over Colore, or design over color which can be seen in all of his works[3][6]. His ideology proposed that design, form and line were more important than t he colors and dà ©cor of the traditional Baroque French art of the time. This very dogma split French Renaissance Art 200 years after his death in which factions of his study (Poussinistes) proposed that drawing was superior to color (Rubà ©nistes)[6]. Poussin’s  holistic and classical approach was his attempt to reach the highest aim of painting: the representation of the magnificent. He intended to only focus on great events, battles and divine matters. In this way, Poussin’s take on Roman Classicism eventually contributed to the aesthetic style of Grand Matter[3][6]. His method of Ideal or Heroic Landscape, which drew upon the perspectives of rhetoric, utopianism, drama and metaphysics allowed him to coherently arrange elements as seen in the â€Å"Birth of Venus†. The very nature and composition of Poussin’s works highlights the realm of Baroque Classicism in which the arrangement of the physical is paramount to reflecting the rationality of an ideal and eternal world. His fascination with deity and mythology sans Christianity also can be seen in his rejection of Neoplatonism and his use of Epicurean interpretation[5]. Indeed, Poussin was not the first artist to depict Venus physica (terrestrial Venus). Nearly a century and a half prior to Poussin’s painting, Italian painter Sandro Boticelli composed a similar painting also named â€Å"The Birth of Venus† (1485)[6]. While there are some similarities to Boticelli’s painting, Poussin’s provides a more Epicurean interpretation rather than a Neoplatonistic o ne. In addition, 20 years after Boticelli’s work, another Italian painter created another piece of art that depicts Venus in a manner more similar to Poussin’s (â€Å"The Triumph of Galatea†)[6]. The Birth of Venus by Boticelli (1485) The Triumph of Galatea by Raphael (1514) Both of these paintings, while somewhat similar, only reinforce some of the symbolic clues left by Poussin in his own depiction: The Birth of Venus or The Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite by Poussin (1635) As we gaze over Poussin’s work of art we notice a great many things. First and foremost, as we know of his attention to placement, the centermost and brightest subject is of a nude female deity. A time-frozen, windswept pink shroud is cast upon her naked body while she rides on top of dolphins harnessed by her and the cupid-like boy under her. Poussin’s placement of Her is crucial because it highlights Her very significance in the scene; she is centered as her male counterpart is seemingly subordinate and pictorially  off to the side. Around her are Tritons and Nerreds and above are cupid-like babies adorning her with flowers. The inspiration for the placement and formation of the goddess can be seen by the earlier paintings of Boticelli and Raphael. In each painting the deity in the center is shielded by a billowing cloth of pink/red. In addition, Poussin chose to have the woman deity ride in on dolphins similar to that of Raphael’s composition. Because there are two official names for this painting, one thing must be addressed before moving on, â€Å"Is this a depiction of the birth of Venus or the triumph of Amphitrite?†. Amphitrite is the Greek sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon while Venus is the Roman goddess of love, two different characters that share no parallels. There is some interesting evidence to support that the painting is indeed Venus’ birth. In both The Triumph of Galatea and The Birth of Venus, Venus is not only riding on dolphins but also has her son Cupid below her also harnessing the sea beasts[3][4][5][6]. Furthermore in Boticelli’s painting and in Poussin’s, the woman deity is being adorned with myrtle, the flower most commonly associated with Venus, goddess of love – myrtle too is a symbol of love[6]. Additionally, Poussin employs his knowledge of Apulerius in Metamorphoses or â€Å"The Golden Ass† of which the story describes Venus as being accompanied by a ban d of fellow beings singing and blowing horns[2][4]. The comparison between the Apulerius’ text and Poussin’s painting are fascinating, there are a band of fellow beings surrounding Venus in the form of Tritons and Nerreds, two of which are blowing horns. In Metamorphoses, Apulerius merely depicts the triumph of a Venus while Poussin paints her genesis[2]. Seen in the warm clouds above, riding on a chariot in the sky by six doves is the infant form of Venus. On her journey to creation she encounters transformation which is signified by the dark storm clouds above. This is painted to contrast the entire tone of the painting so markedly that it bears a special meaning. Poussin again employs his usage of literary interpretation in the form of Lucretius’ didactic poem De rerum natura or â€Å"On the Nature of Things†[4]. In this poem’s prologue, there lies a single significant line: â€Å"Te dea, te fugiunt venti, Te nubile caeli Adventumque tuum†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . This translates to â€Å"Thee, goddess fle e you, the wind, cloudy skies, and your arrival.† [4] Which means that the winds and clouds part in anticipation of a goddess, shown in the picture. In Poussin’s depiction, he portrays Venus as being propelled by the  winds just as in Boticelli’s work. These pieces of literary and visual evidence provide basis that the central female deity in Poussin’s painting is in fact Roman goddess Venus. To the left of Venus is a male deity riding on hippocamps or seahorses, it is not easily discernible however if he is to be depicted as Neptune the Roman god of freshwater and sea or Poseidon, Greek god of the ocean. Both counterparts are known as god of the horses and horse tamer respectively and each wields a trident[6]. In regards to the location of the painting, Poussin uses the method of Ideal Landscape[6] in which he represents the locale but not exactly. It was important that the setting did not exactly reflect or imitate a real place in its entirety but to highlight the divinity, magnificence and importance of the event or subject in an effort to not distract the audience. However, Poussin did provide a small piece of evidence in the form of a spilling vase at the base of the painting. This could symbolize a river near a mountai nous island in the Mediterranean. Evidence has shown that the archaeological site of Paphos (a mountainous island of Cyprus) is near the mouth of the Bocarus River which could very well be the paintings’ setting [4][5]. Works Cited [1] Janson, Anthony. Jansons History of Art . 8th ed. Pearson, 2011. Print. [2]Moore, Brooks. Ovids Metamorphoses. 1st. New York, NY: Marshall Jones Company, 1933. Print. [3] Nicolas Poussin Biography. Nicholas Poussin: The Complete Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Aug 2013. . [4] Phelan, Joseph. Poussin and the Heroic Landscape.ArtCyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Aug 2013. [5] Sommer, Frank H. . Poussins Triumph of Neptune and Amphitrite: A Re- Identification. Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes. 24.3 (1961): 323-327. Print. [6] Verdi, Richard. Nicolas Poussin. Encyclopedia Britannica. .

Traditional And Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Cultural Studies Essay

Traditional And Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design Cultural Studies Essay This could be just a regular day in Japan: kimonos and mobile phones, traditional ceremonies ending at fast food restaurants, expensive branded handbags, and totally packed trains. (Kozak Wiedman, p. 16) Japan has always been a progressive part of the world. Not only in the field of graphic design, but also in design generally, in technological process, in science etc. They have always been and always will be one step forward from the western world. We can only guess why it happened and when it started. The result of what kind of influence could lead to such exceptional anomaly? It might be cultural aspects: the Japanese culture is one of the kind, unique and sometimes indescribable. You cannot find anything similar or even alike in any other culture in the world. It always contains gargantuan spiritual message. It might be a harmony, which is the most respectable value in Japan in almost all spheres of activity. Maybe it is the other way of perception things, different mentality, which is based on parenting and surroundings and that in turn creates diverse individual personality and helps to build face of society in general. All of the above establish chain links where are one depen ds on another and every each of them influence one other. (Kozak Wiedman, pp. 15-22) I was always admired by the Japanese progression and it always inspired me not only in a creative way but also in a way of lifestyle. This pushed me to choose the theme of my dissertation: Contemporary Japanese Graphic Design is direct extension of Japanese Prints (Ukiyo-e) of the end of 18th the beginning of 19th century. I started to think if the contemporary Japanese graphic design is inspired and influenced by old examples of Traditional Japanese graphics. How deep is this inspiration and how Japanese people themselves perceive the progression of design, because for the western mentality it is something unbelievable extraordinary and conceptual? It is well known that the respect for the traditional Japanese art among artists not only in Japan, but all over the world is very deep, but for Japanese society it is extreme. And it is seen in most of the contemporary graphic design pieces: deep appreciation and honor to be a part of it. (Kozak Wiedman, pp. 15-22) Further I will try to answer questions to describe the current situation in relative to the perception of the traditional graphics and contemporary graphic design: study history of traditional Japanese graphic design, critically analyze it try to understand the most important aspects of life and try to grasp the essence of themes graphics and the main streams and details in the paintings of artists choose two traditional artists who worked in different genres and critically analyze their life and work study evolution of contemporary graphic design and identify mainstream chose the sphere of the graphic design which more correspond to traditional Japanese graphics choose several designers who perform in genre of graphic design investigate their life and works compare contemporary graphic design with traditional Japanese prints and detect influence and understand how current designers are inspired by Japanese old prints and techniques how deep is this influence In my dissertation I will try to prove that nowadays designers from Japan are very much influenced and inspired by the works of traditional graphic artists and that this influence is very deep and broad or I will refute this fact. History of Japanese Traditions and culture. Until modern times, the Japanese wrote with the brush rather than a pen and their familiarity with brush techniques has made them particularly sensitive to painterly values. They found sculpture a much less sympathetic medium for artistic expression. (Pioch, 2002) Japanese art started to develop sometime in the tenth millennium BC. For the long period of time, Japanese managed to develop the ability to absorb and assimilate different elements of foreign cultures which have been brought from the continent. They succeeded not only to implement these specific features in their own culture, but also to create new, based on their experience from this contact. (Pioch, 2002) Buddhism had a Dramatic impact on Japanese culture and traditions. It was introduced to Japan by travelers and visitors of China and Korea. Together with religion several art techniques as the design of pottery and metal vases, more advanced methods of casting in bronze and also new techniques and mediums for paintings were brought from continent. The religion became a very important factor in contact and relationships between Japan, Korea, China and whole Asian continent. (Hooker, 1996; Pioch, 2002) First Ukiyo-e emerged in the middle of the 17 century in the city named Edo, which is now turned into famous and eccentric Tokyo. Everything was concentrated in Edo: politics, art, religion, this city was a centre of Japanese development. The Japanese art has always been characterized by unique polarities: simple content of images and a very deep and controversial meaning. The main topic of art in that period were pleasures of life, in fact the whole name of the art stream Ukiyo-e can be understand as pictures of the floating world. As the art at that era was the prerogative of the upper class which can afford to buy original paintings the artists themselves wanted the lower classes to be involved in the art life of the society. So, the special technique was introduced in Japan that time. The woodblock prints were very popular and inexpensive so, everyone could buy them. The essence of woodblock prints laid in the copying of original art work with the help of woodcuts, and that is wh y it is called Japanese prints. One of the most important and popular motif of art at that time was an image of soldier and war theme. The popularity of this flow started from Onin war, which took place between years of 1466 and 1467 and was one of the most devastating civil wars in 15th century. During the 16th century the new historical order was established in Japan by two misfires of the country Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who started an early Modern Age in Japan. In art this time period is called Momoyama period. The main motifs of traditional Japanese art which started to appear in Momoyama art period were: landscapes paintings, images of flowers and animals in different season of the year, scenes from every day city life, the pictures of historical events, unusual views of famous places, tea-houses visits, geishas images, motif of bijin-ga which can be encrypted as portraits of beautiful women, erotic pictures and also a heavy demand for scenes of brothels and theaters was touched in the paintings. One of the most well-known entertainments for public was theatre where the Kabuki performance was held. Kabuki means song-dance-art and it was founded by Izumo no Okuni. Kabuki was presented by men in kimonos who danced in traditional style for Japan. This performance was very popular among public and generated Kabuki-mono dance. This trend was copied by prostitutes who danced on the street and in the brothels to attract new clients. With time Kabuki-mono dance became an art, and upper class prostitutes and courtesans, who owned this art to perfection, could be very expensive. This trend generated with time the new flow, only Geishas can perform the Kabuki-mono dance and only them had a right to do that. This phenomenon had a heavy impact on artists and at that period the pictures of geishas, courtesans and Kabuki dance actors became very popular stream which stayed in the Japanese art for several centuries. (Fahr-Becker, pp. 10-36) UTAMARO KITAGAWA 1753-1806. The man who loved women: this was Kitawaga Utamaro. It would be hard to think of an artist more intent on the opposite sex. Or one who left more images of women working, wating, arranging their faces, combing their hair, readying themselves for the day performance (or the nights trade) or simple thinking, feeling, watchingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Laure Cumming (Guardian News and Media Limited, 2010) There are not much known facts about Utamaro, he was born around 1753 probably in province named Musashi. After his father death, young artist moved to Edo. After some time in year 1775 he joined the studio of a painter Seiken, who might be his relative. He stayed there for 7 years. In year 1780 he was discovered by a leading publisher at that time Tsutaya Juzaburo, who recognized his talent and entranced him to Yoshiwara, which at that time was a rendezvous for artists and poets. Two years later Utamaro signed the contract with Juzaburo and together they published several book illustrations, which made Kitagawa famous At the same time he changed his name from his original name Ichitaro Kitagawa to Utamaro Kitagawa and under this name he became popular (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-230; Artelino GmbH, 2010). His style became completed and built only in 1790s. He had conquered the field of Ukiyo-e with his bejin-gas. In 1793 Utamaro started to work on his most famous erotic graphics paintings of women from Yoshivwara (Glenn, 2010). He was truly inspired by female body Kiyonga graceful and elegant female type, which he surrounded with a mist of eroticism. Utamaro was one of a kind his style was unique; he was the very first artist that time who started to picture women more realistic, without lying (Artelino GmbH, 2010). His works contain very good composition, easy command techniques; he used silver and gold powder and different paintings styles in his art works (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-230). Utamaro was a master of half-tones; his colors run from black and white to all shades of grey, umber, soft ochre and plum. It is seems, he was dreaming while painting. He played with silhouettes shadows illusions and reality. The way Kitagawa portrayed prostitutes and courtesans is contains as much dignity as his portraits of aristocrats (Guardian News and Media Limited, 2010). Even thought he portrayed his women more realistic than any artist before, he liked to idealize them. His women are taller and slimmer than they really were. Indeed his graphic painters looked like nowadays fashion magazine photos (Artelino GmbH, 2010). One of the most meaningful and important works of his life was a pillow-book E-hon Utamakura published in year 1788. It is said to be the most sophisticated work of an erotic graphic at that time in Japan. Utamara was the most successful and well-known author of the beautiful women motifs. He showed women with deep sensitivity and respect as no one before him. (Fahr-Becker, pp. 200-230) KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI (1760-1849). From the age of six I had a mania for drawing the shapes of things. When I was fifty I had published a universe of designs, but all I have done before the age of seventy is not worth bothering with. At seventy five Ill have learned something of the pattern of nature, of animals, of plants, of trees, birds, fish and insects. When I am eighty you will see real progress. At ninety I shall have cut my way deeply in to the mystery of life itself. At a hundred I shall be a marvelous artist. At a hundred and ten everything I create; a dot, a line, will jump to life as never before. To all of you, who are going to live as long, as I do, I promise to keep my word. I am writing this in my old age. I used to call myself Hokosai, but today I sign myself The Old Man Mad about Drawing. Katsushika Hokusai (Andreas.com, 2010) One of the greatest artists of the Japanese prints was born on 12 of October in 1760 in the city of Edo, which is now known as city of Tokyo. History did not tell us anything about his real parents, in age of 3, Katsushika was adopted by Nakajime Ise, mirror maker (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-178). Work of his new father included paintings and design around mirrors, and this was a real inspiration for small Hokusai and pushed him closely to art. During his artistic life, he changed his name at least 30 times; probably it was a trend for artists of that time (Katsushikahokusai.org, 2010). Small Katsushika started to pain in age of 6 years old, in age of 12 his father send him to work in the public library, where he was reading a lot and where he firstly was introduced to Ukiyo-e, Japanese prints. In 1775 Hokusai started to study at the art school of Katsukawa Shunsho, who had been a master of ukiyo-e (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-178). He spent about 19 years in this art studio, after what, he was fired because he started to attend another art school, called Kano, and that was a well known fact. Later he had changed his school again and again, and each time he had been choosing a new name (Glenn, 2010). His first work was published in 1779, it was a picture of actor, he published it under the name Shumo, and three years after his first big project appeared, it were illustrations of the book-novel. During his studying he was very inspired by European art and, what is more important by Chinese historical art and after, he was known like a Japans expert on Chinese paintings. One of the most well known of his works is woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (1831), where we can found most famous and recognized in the whole world print called The Great Wave of Kanagawa, which was produced during the 1820 (Katsushikahokusai.org, 2010). World know this series as a thirty six illustration work, but originally, before the series were published author included ten more prints. In his work all spectrum of Ukiyo-e art can be found: picture books, books of anecdotes, erotic books, individual prints, surimono, illustrations of verse and historical romances, paintings, sketches etc. (Japanese prints). Katsushika passed away after a very productive life; he left more than 30  000 works which included: woodblocks prints, silk paintings, erotic illustrations, picture books, sketches, manga and travel illustrations (Andreas.com, 2010). His manner of work is known to be as a very realistic one; his main themes were everyday life, people in nature life, animals, nature, plants, landscapes and mythological scenes. Katsushika was a very productive and active person this can be seen though his art work and paintings. During his life he had changed his home more than 93 times, he was married twice, become a father of several children. Hokusai brought a new greatness to Ukiyo-e art (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-178). CONTEMPRORY GRAPHIC DESIGN intro Graphic design has been introduced to our everyday life long time ago, so song we cant even see it now. Everything we are surrounded with television, advertising, internet, web pages, faces of the companies, packaging and more is a graphic design, we live in it, we surrounded by it, we cannot imaging our life without it. Japan is probably a center of this circle, of contemporary graphic design life. Many mainstreams of contemporary graphic design are coming from Japan. It is Mecca for many graphic designers. Here you can found the most bold and bright ways of introducing graphic design to life. Tokyo is seen from abroad as a gigantic bright and never-sleeping city. As Japan itself for foreigners it is a mystery and unpredictability, which they could never found at home. Everything in Japan exists in a form of harmonized polarity. And this kind of polarity can be found not only in graphic design and art, but in everyday life. Because of island situation, Japan is very hard to see with your own eyes and ever harder to discover. Japan is a country of contact, where everything happens simultaneously. Japanese traditional culture is originally based on a simplicity, harmony and sensitivity, which is based on the respect for balance, the perfect example for that would be the Japanese language itself the hieroglyphs, which combine all the features so important not only for the Japanese culture but what is more meaningful for the people of Japan. Same simplicity can be seen in traditional Japanese art forms as Kabuki mono dance, and Ukiyo-e woodcut graphic prints. In contrast ther e is another flow which is very popular in Japan nowadays bright, colorful, brush and busy style, mainly influenced by Manga comic books and Anime animated movies. The existing and using of four different languages in speaking and writing in Japanese culture make the possibilities of combination of different symbols far more richer for Japanese designers than for any others. (KozakWiedman, pp. 15-22) KENYA HARA 1958. Design is like a fruit of a tree. In product design vehicles and refrigerators are the fruit. Design functions from the perspective of how to produce a good fruit. If you look at the tree from some distance, you see next to the tree that bears the fruit and then the soil in which the tree stands. Important to the whole process of creation good fruit is the condition of the soil. Kenya Hara (The Designers Review of Books, 2009) Kenya Hara was born in 1958 in Tokyo, he represents new generation of designers born in post World War two periods in Japan and raised in the 1960-1970 when the nation transformed from a heavily militaristic Asian society with feudal roots in to a new developing power of the world (Dezeen, 2010). Kenya Hara is not only a great graphic designer, but more importantly he is a thinker, philosopher and orator. According to his words, the main aim of design is not design itself, but a concept and perception. Before created something, you have to understand and realize what are the reasons and functions and features of what is supposed to be created (Theme Magazine, 2008). From the beginning of his art career he was searching for the meaning and purpose of his work. He wanted to find his design methodology which would define his design life and he recently found his life principles. He claims that his methodology is inspired by traditional graphics of Japanese masters of Japanese prints Ukiyo-e (Core77, Inc., 2010). He incorporated traditional Japanese art culture to contemporary graphic design through his works. One of many examples would be the designing of Nagano Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, where he tried to show the essence beauty and spirit of Japanese culture to those who came abroad of forget about their roots (Moleskine, 2010). Kenya developed his unique methodology, which is based on notions of emptiness, minimalism, escapist colours and archaic form. He advocates simplicity in design, and most of his work is done exclusively in white colour, he insists that: White is a colour, from which colour has escaped, but its diversity is boundless. According to him, the emptiness in design is dramatic in contrast with western perception of this idea Japanese would argue that emptiness is a chance for probability it is not defined and this concept goes far deep into Buddhism and Zen concept (Core77, Inc., 2010; Bigin Japan 2010). One of the greatest examples of his perception of art is his book published 2007 Designing Design, which is the translation into English of his book Design of Design, which was published in Japan in 2003 and received several Awards (Moleskine, 2010). One of the main purposes of translating this book into English was according to the author to show and introduce unique Japanese culture and its concepts to Western world and to bring closer Western world to Japan. Now Kenya Hara is a professor at the Musashino Art University in Tokyo and Art Director of Muji (a brand with no-brand policy) since 2002. He is interested in travel and deepening his concept of perception, so he can bring those new ideas into his art work. YAYOI KUSAMA 1929. One day I was looking at the red flower patterns of the tablecloth on the table and when I looked up, I saw the same pattern covering the ceiling, the windows, and the walls, and finally all over the room, my body and the universe. I felt as if I had began to self-obliterate, to revolve in the infinity of endless time and the absoluteness of space, and be reduced to nothingness. As I realized it was actually happening and not just in my imagination, I was frightenedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Yayoi Kusama (McShane Eliason, 2010) She was born on 22 of March in 1929 in Matsumoto City in Japan (Gagosian Gallery, 2010). According to her words, her mother was extremely violent and hated to see her painting, she beat her almost every day and destroyed many of her first paintings. Yayoi started to see hallucinations since she was ten years old and that was the time she started to paint. She ran away from her family to study art in Kyoto, but she found her school to conservative out of touch with reality of modern art. So, she did not really attend classes, she used to paint in dormitory instead (Bomb Magazine, 2010). She also studied Nihonga panting rigorous formal style developed during the Meiji period (1868-1912) ( Gagosian Gallery, 2010 ). At the same period of her life she began to receive psychiatric treatment. In one of her interviews, Yayoi claims that she tried to cure her disease by translating her hallucinations and fear of hallucinations into paintings (Bomb Magazine, 2010). In 1957 Kusama moved to New York, where she started a new life. She stayed in USA for next 10 years and was broadly recognized as genius artist not only among critics and colleagues, but also she was rediscovered by public (Kusama, 2007). She produced astonishing number of works; among them we can found not only paintings, but also sculptures, collages, photo-collages, installations, performances, graphic design, fashion design and even film. She could not be defined as artist of particular style or rubric, as she does not fit in any of the categories. Many connoisseurs of art tried to put her in categories like pop art, minimalism, post minimalism etc., but she is everything and nothing, she is unique (The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1998). The pumpkins and flowers are one of her iconic motifs, which she likes to paint using polka dots and nets. She was often called by paparazzi while living in New York Polka Dot girl (Switchedonart.com, 2010; Gagosian Gallery, 2010). Main themes of her works have always been Infinity, partly due to her disease, which she has been fighting all of her life, and partly due to her philosophy of art and life. Philosophy, which is in my opinion had been influenced by traditional Japan philosophy, Japan culture and mentality. All of this surrounded her since her childhood and had a huge impact on her life and art work, even if she does not want to recognize this fact. In one of her interviews she said that she has never been influenced and inspired by anything, but in practice it is almost impossible as the whole world affect us and our creativity (Kusama, 2007; Bomb Magazine, 2010). In year 1973 Yayoi returned to Japan. Since then she is living in hospital, still creating unique pieces of art and trying to fight her disease (The Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1998). COMPARING. To prove my initial argument about inspiration of contemporary graphic design artists of Japan by traditional Japanese masterpieces Ukiyo-e from end of 18th beginning of 19th century I decided to compare work of Katsushika Hokusai 36 views of mount Fuji: The South Wind Dispels the Clouds and work of Kenya Hara MUJI Horizon (Uyuni Salt Lake; poster). 36 views of mount Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika is a series of woodblock prints where the Fuji Mountain is portrayed from different viewpoints. The particular painting I have chosen is named The South Wind Dispels the Clouds it is regarded not only as Hokusais masterpiece, but the masterpiece of art among all Japanese woodcut prints. The mountain on this picture symbolized tranquility, equanimity, spirituality, stability, harmony, balance as the mountain is still and the life around it flows without stresses and live all problems and questions behind. You can find there place without fear and doubts; you can find your soul up in the mountain. Hokusai creates a mist of soft clouds which are dispelled by the wind as a symbol of the disappearance of all the extraneous thought and lives you in a state of meditation. The artist uses soft pastel colour and russet tones to high light the softness of clouds. The simple diagonal composition with a lot of space around mountain personifies the mai n idea of a picture harmony and emptiness as an idea of endless possibilities. (Fahr-Becker, pp. 99-109) The project Muji horizon by Kenya Hara is a series of posters which took the artist to the Mongolian prairies and Bolivian salt lakes, where photographer Tamotsu Fujii captured these memorable billboard images of emptiness and possibility. And this idea of emptiness and possibility is a design philosophy of Kenya Hara. I have chosen this work because it is also a series like 36 views of mount Fuji by Hokusai Katsushika. In this poster we can find a small figure on an empty landscape as symbol of a soul seeking for harmony and balance. As if in the work of Hokusai you already have found the balance and tranquility, but on the poster of Kenya Hara you are on the way to that calmness and harmony. The composition is again very simple and static as on the 36 views of mount Fuji, but it is horizontal, and the presence of space is valuable. The idea of emptiness and possibility is very important to Hara and comparing these two works we can defiantly say that Hara is inspired by the philosop hy and work of traditional Japanese art masters. (Dezeen, 2010) To prove my argument I also would like to compare two other works, which are in contrast are not that obviously alike. For my second analyses I have chosen Woman Playing a Poppin by Kitigawa Utamaro and The Polka Dots by Yayoi Kusama. Woman Playing a Poppin by Kitigawa Utamaro. We can see, like almost always, beautiful women playing on Poppin, which was obviously some traditional Japan musical instrument. Woman has a typical Japan face, hair and dress, which is portrayed with using a pattern. Woman is showed to us in normal everyday life. The composition is simple and vertical; we can see just a woman, nothing more without any other details. It is very harmoniously. The drapery of dress softly creates a nice, playful line. The face is very calm and is portrayed in very easy way, just line. The line is very important in this kind of prints. I think, by the idea of artist, the first thing you see is a pattern and dress and only later the face. (Fahr-Becker, pp. 173-230) On picture by Yayoi Kusama The Polka Dots we can see self-portrait where she is using a pattern of polka dots everywhere, on wall, on chair, even to her dress to show that same pattern unifies everything together into one seamless and harmonious element. It is her obsession, same like an obsession of Utamaro with beautiful women bijin ga and with patterns too, which he used on dresses and not just on them. We can see calm and peaceful expression of her face, like on Utamaros woman. The composition is very similar too, it is simply and vertical. In the work by Yayoi Kusama we can also see the line as a one of the main structural elements on the picture, but in contrast with Utamaros picture it is hidden within the dance of polka dots. As on the Woman Playing a Poppin by Kitigawa Utamaro, in the work of Kusama first we see the pattern and only later we recognize the face of the lady presented on the picture. So, it is seem like Yoayami was somehow inspired by Japanese traditional art. May be it is not that obvious like in the Kenyas Hara works but probably she was also inspired by the traditional Japanese prints, and even though it is hard to see the spirit of tradition can be found in her so modern and Pop art works. (Kusama, 2007) CONCLUSION. In the process of the research I have deepen my knowledge about history of Japan, culture, traditions, Japanese traditional art and Japanese Prints of 18-19 century Ukiyo-e. I have discovered amazing Japanese painters, found out more about their life, career, work, habits, obsessions and art path. One of the most entertaining parts of my work has been exploring different techniques and methods, which were used by the painters in Japan. In the process of my study I learned what were the main themes and trends which were popular among painters of Ukiyo-e in the end of 18th century and beginning of 19th century. The same I can say about the second part of my study. I discovered many talented and sophisticated contemporary Japanese designers and other artists. I have become acquainted with a lot of new names in the field of contemporary graphic design, with their art works. From this long list of interesting artists and designers I have chosen two absolutely different creators. I was introduced to the new beautiful complicated astonishing world of their ideas and philosophy. In particular I was amazed by the works, ideas and concepts of Kenya Hara, which are very close to my perception of perfect concept for the successful, functional and outstanding design. This person has become one of my tutors not only in my creative life, but also in my life path. As a conclusion of my work I would like to express my opinion on the inspiration of contemporary graphic designers by the traditional Japanese art. I was convinced by all the facts that the traditional Japanese masterpieces as Japanese history culture and religion have huge impact on the inspiration and creativity of contemporary graphic designers. I am sure that many of Japanese designers are inspired by the traditional art and philosophy, consciously or unconsciously. And even if some of them would not admit it we still can find a elusive elements and more in the techniques, using of colour, motifs, themes and etc. Nowadays in the beginning of 21 century we are still admired and inspired by old master pieces, their perfection, deep meaning and philosophical question which are raised in them. So, how the contemporary graphic design would look like in a 22 century when artists would be inspired by us, and if they would?