| Papers [379-396] of 18374 :: [Page 22 of 1021] | | Go to page : <— 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 —> | |
|
|
Walter Benjamin's "Theses on the Philosophy of History", 2008.
A discussion of various interpretations of history, with a focus on historian Walter Benjamin's 1940 book "Theses on the Philosophy of History".
2,820 words (approx. 11.3 pages), 9 sources, MLA, $ 83.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that, in his 1940 book "Theses on the Philosophy of History", Walter Benjamin, using the analogy of an Angel of History, warns that false interpretations of history can be as deadly as the historical tragedies themselves. The author points out that a means of avoiding this is not to emphasis and understand history as a rigid sequence of absolutely true events, which must be accepted as the definitive truth. The paper stresses that it must be remembered that history is written by the triumphant winners. The author discuses examples of history from the ancient Greeks to modern times to emphasize that human nature has changed very little over thousands of years: Intolerance still causes ignorance, which causes wars and kills people.
From the Paper
"The exploitation and abuse of women throughout human history is another refutation of the triumphalist conception of history. As Mohanty notes, even in modern times, women are still struggling for equality, for social movements such as women's liberation tend to trigger resistance because many people prefer the status quo and feel threatened by social change. For example, in recent years some feminist organizations have drawn increasing criticism from mainstream America due to strategies and tactics which seem too aggressive and divisive."
| |
|
Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", 2007.
This paper discuses how the narrative in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" deals with the problem of authorship.
770 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 0 sources, $ 27.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that, in Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein", the reader is provided three different narrative voices: Victor Frankenstein, the creature he has created, and Captain Robert Walton, intrepid explorer.
The author points out that, by peeling away the concentric layers of narration, the reader discovers that the words attributed to the Frankenstein's creature, specifically from Chapter XI to Chapter XVII, may simply be Victor's subjective interpretation of the creature's mindset and that the entire story may simply a fabrication authored by Robert Walton. The paper suggests that the the unreliable narrator issue reflects a larger theme touched upon in the novel, the tension between author and artifice.
From the Paper
"The opening letters, attributed to Captain Robert Walton, provides the setting and occasion for Victor Frankenstein's narrative. At the end of Chapter IX, Victor agrees to hear his creature's tale, out of a sense of duty as creator. These are the two points in the book where the reliability of the narratives comes into question. Although Walton helps frame the larger narrative, his letters, which initiate and conclude the novel, poses the question whether Walton, not unlike the book's author, is concocting a "ghost story" for the sake of amusement, or whether this account is an accurate representation of actual events."
| |
|
John Donne, 2008.
An analysis of John Donne's 17th century letters and poetry.
2,823 words (approx. 11.3 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 84.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper looks at how analyzing the social, cultural, and gendered implications of political and economic change during the long seventeenth century, from the accession of Queen Elizabeth to the reign of George I, can be achieved by examining and reflecting upon the poetry and letters of John Donne. The paper relates that John Donne was a keen observer of contemporary life and recorded his observations in numerous poems and letters. The paper then discusses how examining them enables us to view this period through various lenses, including cultural production, status and ethnic difference, and gendered male and female experiences.
From the Paper
"In one of many letters to the Countess of Bedford, Donne contemplated both the bad and good elements in human nature: "Whate'er the world hath bad, or precious, Man's body can produce; hence hath it been, That stones, worms, frogs, and snakes in man are seen. But whoe'er saw, though nature can work so, That pearl, or gold, or corn in man did grow?" (Donne 4) He understood that there are both good and evil impulses in everyone and that no one is either entirely good or entirely evil. Men are capable of perpetrating the most horrible things, but men are also capable of wondrous and noble accomplishments."
| |
|
Personal Finance Books, 2007.
This paper compares two books on personal finances: D. Chilton's "The Wealthy Barber" and E. Tyson's "Personal Finance for Dummies".
1,050 words (approx. 4.2 pages), 2 sources, APA, $ 36.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that these personal finance books are designed to aid the average person in his or her personal finances, which is a subject everyone should try to understand. The author points out that Chilton's "The Wealthy Barber: Everyone's Commonsense Guide to Becoming Financially Independent" is formatted as a discussion among friends; however, it does not provide a clear explanation. The paper relates that Tyson's "Personal Finance for Dummies" explains different topics, chapter by chapter, in a clear and well-designed manner including a useful chapter pointing the way to more information such as financial planners. The author suggests that Chilton's book might make a good introduction for the individual who needs to gain some of the basics before examining Tyson's more detailed book.
From the Paper
"Chilton uses a fictional barber as a central character and so details how this barber has handled his personal finances so as to become financially independent. The plan Chilton offers is not a quick scheme but a carefully developed way to change one's financial status over time. Chilton does not require the reader to be wealthy or to have any more than an average salary, yet he shows how such a person can take control of their finances and make a real difference for their future."
| |
|
"Black Boy", 2008.
This paper discusses authority and egoism in Richard Wright's autobiography "Black Boy".
1,573 words (approx. 6.3 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 51.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper examines Richard Wright's autobiography "Black Boy" and identifies how authority was the cause of Wright's egoism. The paper explains how the authorities in the book are all imbued with deep rooted racism, so the only means of survival for Wright is to embrace egoism. The paper highlights how, in the book, more than anything, authority is shown to be continuously abused and in that abuse is the destruction of any societal unity.
From the Paper
"Richard Wright's autobiography Black Boy (1944) shows extreme distrust and distaste for almost all authority. Wright wants to establish himself as a helpful and respectful member of society, but he wants to do this on his own terms, allowing himself to define himself as an individual. However, it is the various authorities in the book, whether they be familial, moral or societal, that keep Wright from achieving his goal; the authority of the hegemonic culture, steadfastly opposed to resistance of any kind, is constantly thrusting an identity on Wright, hindering his own self-integration and causing deeper distrust and resentment. It is the authorities in the book, all imbued with deep rooted racism, that makes it so that the only means of his survival is to embrace egoism."
| |
|
"Their Eyes Were Watching God", 2008.
This paper analyzes "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston.
1,210 words (approx. 4.8 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 41.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper examines the novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston, which portrays the prejudices faced by African-American women. The paper describes how Hurston paints a verbal picture of Janie, the African-American woman and explains how through her relationships with different men, she finally finds her true identity.
From the Paper
"The life of Janie in the novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston and published originally in 1937, was written during a period of time when there were few African American women writers. It is a story of the life of an African American woman who is telling her story to a friend and how she did not even know who she was until she met Tea Cake. It is an emotionally charged book that tells how life was for women and men back in the days where whites mistreated them due to their skin color. Hurston paints a verbal picture of Janie, an African American woman, who begins the story of how she had no identity, but through her relationships with different men, finally, finds herself."
| |
|
"Last Ink", 2008.
An analysis of Michael Ondaatje's poem "Last Ink".
1,495 words (approx. 6.0 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 49.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper explains how Michael Ondaatje's poem "Last Ink" presents a complex reflection upon love and how the writer perceives and represents thought and experience. The paper demonstrates how Ondaatje achieves these objectives through the use of imagery and syntactical constructions. The paper illustrates how "Last Ink" is a powerful and resonant poetic work.
From the Paper
"One of the particularly interesting features of "Last Ink" is the centrality of the writing experience in the poem. The act of writing is not for Ondaatje restricted to pen and paper. Rather, throughout his work, he has reflected on writing as an act of creation that is central to the human experience (Vigurs 72). For Ondaatje, for example, lovers are writers and the lover's body becomes a medium upon which a text is inscribed. Love and sensuality have been recognized as predominating in the themes and imagery of Ondaatje's poetry (Sen 338)."
| |
|
Masculinity and the First World War, 2008.
A review of Joanna Bourke's "Dismembering the Male: Men's Bodies, Britain and the Great War."
3,229 words (approx. 12.9 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 93.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper critically examines Bourke's "Dismembering the Male: Men's Bodies, Britain and the Great War", which analyzes how the idealized male form and notions of masculinity were impacted by the events of the First World War. The paper discusses the book's arguments, its strengths and weaknesses and how it was received by the academic community. The paper concludes that the book is a mild disappointment despite some undeniable strengths.
From the Paper
"Bourke's book is chiefly concerned with how the idealized male form - vigorous, strong, assertive - and idealistic notions of masculinity were impacted by the events of the First World War; her conclusion is that there was as much continuity as there was change. For example, Bourke finds that the millions of British men who were maimed during the course of the great conflagration did not return home to a society which viewed them as passive or as weak because their bodies no longer measured up to the ideal male figure; instead, the society to which they returned viewed them (for the most part and at least initially until their status as warriors had slipped into the background) as objects of reverence and sympathy. On the other hand, those men who did not lose limbs in the war but returned home with the reputation as "malingerers" were held in contempt; in short, Bourke's book seems to argue that the idealized male body could be savaged in the most unsightly ways - but those men who had their physical beings damaged could still be viewed as men and as full members of the body politic insofar as they had honored their "masculine duties" on the field of battle."
| |
|
Hanif Kureishi's "The Buddha of Suburbia", 2007.
This paper analyzes the theme of post-colonial elements of Indian identity in England within Hanif Kureishi's novel "The Buddha of Suburbia".
980 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 34.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that "The Buddha of Suburbia" by Hanif Kureishi presents the struggles of a Indian teenager, Karim, which are crucial aspects of post-colonial identity within the suburbs of England. The author points out that the "Englishness" of Karim and his family members are thwarted when his father decides to return to his Buddhist faith, raising questions of Indian identity within the family unit. The paper relates that the post-colonial elements of this novel are revealed through Karim and his father's desire to be Indian against the dominating colonizing principles of English society. The paper includes quotations.
From the Paper
"The early post-colonial elements of "The Buddha of Suburbia" revolve around the main character, Karim, and Indian teenager living in middle class British suburbs. Karim's father, Haroon, had essentially become "British" in every aspect of his life but suddenly has an epiphany to become a devote Buddhist. This causes a great conflict to those native English people in their lives, which is caused by the "native" return to religious principles that Karim's father wishes to explore. Karim's narrative defines the inherent racism of the English people... "
| |
|
"White Noise" by Don DeLillo and "America" by Jean Baudrillard, 2003.
A discussion of postmodern America in the books "White Noise" by Don DeLillo and "America" by Jean Baudrillard.
1,719 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 2 sources, APA, $ 55.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines postmodernism in the novel "White Noise" by Don DeLillo and the non-fiction book "America" by Jean Baudrillard. It explains that even though "White Noise" and "America" deal with reality and the undercurrents of postmodern life, both books are essentially different in their ultimate outlooks. The writer discusses Baudrillard's caustic view of American society and life in his book "America" and contrasts this with the perspective in "White Noise", which is more hopeful for America and its future, despite the dehumanization of postmodern living and the "white noise" it brings with it.
Outlook:
Introduction
White Noise & America
Conclusion
From the Paper
""White Noise" by Don DeLillo and Jean Baudrillard's "America" are, by technical definition, two very different books, the former being a novel and the second a non-fiction musing of a man's travels across the United States. However, both are very similar in that they offer an intense look into postmodern America, with its social relations being affected by society's preferred mediums - television, advertising, radio, and the process of simulacra - that is, the simulacrum that is vanity, a society which places value of false realities over real ones, where a hypperreality has replaced a real existence for human beings. Though both books tackle a reality which may not seem to exist, DeLillo's book at least has some hope for human beings and laughs at life's little hypocrisies, whereas Baudrillard offers little in the way of humor or hope."
| |
|
Globalization and the Welfare State, 2008.
A review of three academic articles about the impact of globalization on the European welfare state.
1,996 words (approx. 8.0 pages), 3 sources, APA, $ 63.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper examines three articles, Mark Weisbrot's , "The Scorecard on Globalization, 1980-2000: Twenty Years of Diminished Progress", an International Monetary Fund article, "Globalization: Threat or Opportunity?" and Robert Estes' , "Trends in Social Development, 1970-1995: Development Prospects For a New Century," in order to determine how globalization has impacted the European welfare state. It then
attempts to determine why the social welfare state developed differently in Great Britain compared to other Western European states and why the different origins of social welfare states produced varied patterns of globalization policy development, and vice versa. In particular, it focuses on the impact of globalization on the fall of the social welfare state in Great Britain, for many economists have linked the growing inequality of income and wealth throughout Western Europe to globalization.
From the Paper
"Economic globalization is expanding and accelerating because capitalist institutions, ideology, and behaviors pervade much of the global economy. This translates into the dominance of capitalist market systems, market values, and market mechanisms. The reality of the world economy, however, is much more complex, and many people are increasingly frustrated by the negative economic aspects of globalization, for macroeconomic theory doesn't seem to affect them much, but a lost job because their company transfers its production facilities overseas because of cheaper labor does
affect them. "
| |
|
Carlo Ginzburg's "The Cheese and the World", 2007.
This paper discuses Carlo Ginzburg's book "The Cheese and the World" as a micro-history of the less considered aspects of 16th century Italy.
5,000 words (approx. 20.0 pages), 10 sources, MLA, $ 126.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that Carlo Ginzburg's "The Cheese and the World"
relates, in the style of micro-history, the life of miller Menocchio (1532-1599) from the Italian district of Friuli, who was brought before the Inquisition in 1584 and 1599 on charges of heresy owing to his peculiar religious beliefs and was eventually burned at the stake. The author points out that Ginzburg, who is a noted micro-historian and expert on the Italian Renaissance and early modern European history, comments that Menocchio's predicament owed much to two great historical developments of his day: the advent of the printing press and the Reformation. The author suggests that most readers' perception of the Reformation and its surrounding culture will be upset by the way this book telescopes the arrival of the printing press into the thoughts of the later Renaissance as if these forces immediately changed consciousness.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Printing Press
The Reformation
1599 - What a Heretic Said
On Micro-History
Concluding Remarks
From the Paper
"In a manner much ahead of his time, Menocchio had argued that a religious person believed his faith to be true, just as the Christian believed that Christianity was the correct religion, with a remark too on people believing they embraced a superior culture when, in fact, who was to know this was true, or what an inferior culture might be. The inquisitor asked about the Three Rings and where Menocchio had encountered it, referring to a title as a prohibited book. Ginzburg explains how the Roman Catholic Church was by this time engaged in a "two-front war" against both high culture that would not conform to Counter-Reformation ideals and against popular culture that was showing more signs of questioning..."
| |
|
The Rites of Manhood in "The Odyssey", 2008.
An examination of the issue of marriage and the rites of manhood for Telemachus in "The Odyssey" by Homer.
856 words (approx. 3.4 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 30.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper looks at why marriage and the rites of manhood are central reasons for the journey that Telemachus must undertake in search of his father, Odysseus, in "The Odyssey" by Homer. Telemachus is a young adult that desperately desires to see his father return, since his mother, Penelope, is under great pressure to remarry due to his 20-year absence. It examines Telemachus' journey into manhood to find his father, preventing his mother from remarrying and the loss of family honor.
From the Paper
"The first appearance of Telemachus in The Odyssey relates directly to his defiance of the suitors that wish to marry is mother, Queen Penelope. He is a young man of around twenty years old, and has played a crucial part in the denial of the suitors' admission into his house. In this regard, Athena has already intervened with Telemachus, which has given him the courage to speak against the suitors. This provides a forum for Telemachus to stand up to the greedy and insolent men that only want to marry Penelope because of her power. Telemachus begins his passage into manhood by speaking to the suitors in Book I."
| |
|
Statistical Procedures, 2008.
A discussion of the content of "Statistical Procedures and the Justification of Knowledge in Psychological Science," written by R. Rosnow and R. Rosenthal, analyzed through three readings of the article.
1,182 words (approx. 4.7 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 40.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper presents three readings of the article, "Statistical Procedures and the Justification of Knowledge in Psychological Science," written by R. Rosnow and R. Rosenthal. It provides a quick overview of common problems in the first reading, discusses the problems that they highlight in the second reading and discusses the suggestions that they propose in the third reading.
Table of Contents:
First Reading
Second Reading
Third Reading
From the Paper
"On a positive note, Rosnow and Rosenthal offer a number of suggestions for improving academic research. First, they claim that meta-analysis is needed in order to determine the true relationships behind data, and not just new interpretations. The process for this is outlined as one in which researchers check each other's work and run new quantitative analyses on the same data in order to determine whether the data is in fact valid. The effort here should be to further research, not to nit pick. They point out that researchers should "cumulate data not conclusions." In doing so, they argue, researchers will improve the general condition of the professional approach to data because they will be forced to justify their own data in stronger terms (as others will be checking them). They also conclude that researchers will have to do their own legwork in compiling the reviews of literature and presume that this will help further the field as a whole because researchers will not rely on surface analysis and narrative reviews, but will instead apply more rigorous methods of analysis."
| |
|
The Mexican Migrant Worker, 2008.
This paper reviews how Tomas Rivera addresses the issues of class, gender and ethnicity in "And the Earth Did Not Devour Him."
822 words (approx. 3.3 pages), 0 sources, $ 29.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
The paper discusses Tomas Rivera's collection of short stories, "And the Earth Did Not Devour Him", that paints a dark picture of physical hardship, social struggles and spiritual enlightenment. The paper looks at how Rivera demonstrates the separation of classes between Americans and Mexicans, as well as the racial biases and stereotypes that have been placed upon the Mexican people since their migration post-World War II.
From the Paper
"The history of Mexican culture has steadily gained popularity in the United States. With the population steadily increasing throughout the years, it is no surprise that its integration has made it to the public school classroom. However, the Mexican people struggle to battle stereotypes and generalizations. While there are many characteristics that typify a native Mexican, or even a Mexican American, their ethnicity and class divisions are significantly apparent in modern America. Tomas Rivera addresses the issues of class, gender and ethnicity in And the Earth Did Not Devour Him. Taking place in post-World War II, the novella tracks the year in the life of a young Mexican boy, traveling with a group of migrant workers in search of work. Topically, the novella is about the young boy's internal struggle to find meaning behind the life events of the year. However, the undertone reveals a great deal about the prejudice and American perspective on the Mexican Migrant worker."
| |
|
Intelligence and World War II, 2008.
This paper discuses intelligence during World War II, as presented in Barton Whaley's "Codeword Barbarossa" and Roberta Wohlstetter's "Pearl Harbor - Warning and Decision".
1,640 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 8 sources, MLA, $ 53.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that Barton Whaley's "Codeword Barbarossa" has long been considered the definitive study of Hitler's ability to hoodwink Stalin, the Soviet Union's intelligence service and other Allied intelligence networks. The author relates that Roberta Wohlstetter's "Pearl Harbor" conveys that, although rarely has a government been so well informed as to what to expect, this government had "expected wrong". The paper suggests that these books indicate that histories of intelligence or espionage are only tentative as new evidence or new capability in assessing primary sources emerge. The paper concludes that these volumes underscore that, during wartime, uncertainty freezes planning: Stalin responded to the possibility of a German invasion of the Soviet Union; whereas, Pearl Harbor generals waited, puzzled by information from Washington.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Operation Barbarossa
Pearl Harbor
Reflection
Conclusion - 'Surprise' and History
From the Paper
"On June 21, 1991, a German soldier on the Russian border defected to the Soviet forces and stated that Germany was about to invade the Soviet Union. The warning arrived too late. The June 22 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union proceeded as one of history's worst instances of military surprise, the Soviet forces soon surrounded by the Germans as the Luftwaffe destroyed the Soviet air force, on the ground. At the end of World War II, Whaley had a fair amount of the forerunning intelligence story assessed, to which he added what was gained from various forms of evidence concerning European intelligence networks' activities ..."
| |
|
Use of the Persona, 2008.
This paper discusses the use of the persona in James Frey's 'A Million Little Pieces' and Thomas De Quincey's 'Confessions of an English Opium Eater'.
1,957 words (approx. 7.8 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 62.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
In this article, the writer discusses that the construction and use of a persona in works of literature is both an ancient and controversial literary strategy. This essay explores the employment of this strategy in two works that use the device of a persona in detailing struggles with drug addiction: Thomas de Quincey's 'Confessions of an English Opium Eater' and James Frey's 'A Million Little Pieces'. Beginning with a historical background of the theory and practice of the persona in literature, the essay moves to a detailed analysis of its use in both texts. The thesis is argued that the persona is used by both authors to undermine authorial presence in supposedly autobiographical texts in order to heighten both romantic and photo realistic literary effects.
From the Paper
"In Thomas de Quincey's Confessions of an English Opium Eater the use of a persona allows the author to set what are presumably autobiographical experiences in a romantic framework. This is apparent early in the text - before the reader reaches the discussion of opium and its effects - when we see the de Quincey depicting his persona's relationship with the impoverished Ann. This sad and touching story clearly creates sympathy for the reader with the persona. It may be argued that de Quincey is employing it for precisely this effect in the story in order to offset any initial distaste the reader may have for a persona that gradually slips into opium addiction. Thus, we can see how even in a supposedly autobiographical work, the persona may be understood in literary terms as a device set within a literary framework to achieve specific purposes in the minds of the audience."
| |
|
Derek Gregory's "The Colonial Present", 2007.
This paper reviews Derek Gregory's book "The Colonial Present: Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq", which examines the war on terror based on the history of U.S. and British involvement in the region going back decades.
1,735 words (approx. 6.9 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 56.95
»
Click here to show/hide summary
Abstract
This paper explains that Derek Gregory, in "The Colonial Present", spends much of the book describing the actions of Britain and the U.S. in trying to impose control over the peoples of the region. The author points out that former colonial regions of the world are virtually all encumbered today by tensions and state failures because of the condition these regions were left in when the colonial powers withdrew. The paper states that the Middle East, which has been of strategic importance to both countries for some time, often served as a staging ground for conflicts with the Soviet Union; however, the way the West has related to the Middle East has changed since 9-11. The author criticizes that Gregory, a geographer, does not delve deeply into the internal divisions now causing the factional war in Iraq.
From the Paper
"Many of the states in the Middle East are marked by repressive policies, violations of human rights, and non-democratic cultures. The irony is that most of these regimes were set up or propped up by Britain, France, and the United States in decades past, a fact which Gregory says means that the U.S. and the other nations area not innocent, which also helps explain the anger now directed at the West by the Arab world. Gregory notes how many people are asking questions about the guilt of the West and the response of the Middle East, and he says he does not intend to decide which view is correct but only to note the dichotomy they produce."
|
|
|
