Trace the treatment of the Jews by the Nazis between 1933-45

During the hegemony that engulfed Europe between 1939 and 1945, millions of civilians were murdered, outside of the usual battles of war. The hegemony was unprecedented in the annals of history in that the murder of these civilians had its roots not in the causes of the war, but simply in the prejudice that lay at the heart of the political system that had spawned the war, namely the Nazi ideology formed in the insane minds of Adolf Hitler and his henchmen. To that ideology, the creation of a master race of Aryans with all other â€Å"lower† races becoming servile to that master race was logical and a side product of that ambition was the ethnic cleansing of Europe. The initial plan was to move eastwards all such lower races. In due course however, as the ambitions of the Nazis were initially fulfilled, the problem increased. The pathetic irony for Hitler and his cronies was that the very success of their armies brought under their control even more of the undesirables whom they wished to expel from Germany, so that ultimately far from making the Jewish problem disappear, they brought under their control a further 5,000,000 Jews even before the proposed invasions of Russia and Great Britain, the entire gypsy community of Europe and millions of Slavs in the eastern countries of Europe. The problem was to be solved by the â€Å"Final Solution†. Initially the attentions of the Nazis in the immediate years after their ascendancy to power was directed at a widespread cleansing of Germany. This included primarily Jews and communists, Romany (gypsy) people, homosexuals, those who were mentally and / or physically handicapped and those deemed to be â€Å"politically undesirable†. The initial beatings and tirades against these sections of German society however in due course gave way to a more systematic and co-ordinated campaign designed to enable the authorities to rid society of these â€Å"undesirable† elements. Propaganda under the control of Josef Goebbels was employed to ostracize these elements within German society and make their removal both logical and welcome to the average German citizen. Hitler's satanic vision of â€Å"ethnic purity† was based on the idea of levels of genetic value in people. To fulfil Hitler's dream, the Nazi's established comprehensive systems to segregate and later to execute millions of people designated to be less pure. After the succession to power by Adolf Hitler in 1933, an internal security apparatus in the form of a secret police force was designed and continually refined to result in an iron control of the lives of the citizens within Germany. Perfected, this orderly, internal reign of terror spread, as Hitler's forces extended across national borders and with the relatively easy absorption of what had been part of Czechoslovakia, the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia by Germany in 1938. Slovakia, another region of Czechoslovakia, became a state tightly controlled by the Nazis through the Munich Pact signed with the British Government, which naively believed that this concession would mark the end of Hitler's ambitions. On the evening of November 7, 1938, the Nazi regime co-ordinated attacks against the Jewish communities of Germany. Nearly 180 synagogues were burned and destroyed. Hundreds of Jewish men were rounded up and imprisoned on false charges. Jewish-owned businesses throughout Germany were destroyed, damaged and looted. Thousands of windows in synagogues, Jewish businesses and homes were broken giving this night its name – â€Å"Kristallnacht† or the Night of the Broken Glass. This horrific assault was reported in headlines in newspapers around the world. It was taken correctly by some as a signal of what was yet to come and many Jews, taking the warning seriously, emigrated while they still could. However only the United States of America and to a lesser degree Great Britain were prepared to admit Jews seeking sanctuary. Certain countries, notably Switzerland and France were not keen to allow the refugees to stay within their borders. The fact that no country wished to admit the Jews, seemed to validate Hitler's actions in treating them increasingly more harshly. Visas were hard to come by, but bribery and connections still worked in limited ways. Tragically, most Jews remained, believing Germany was democratic, a country for whom many had served with honour and distinction in World War I. They refused to believe that it would turn against them and harm them. They were fatally mistaken and a massive percentage of the entire German Jewish community suffered horribly, dying in the extermination camps before the end of World War II. By September 1, 1939, contrary to the protestations, the completely restored military force of Nazi Germany smashed across the Polish border, overrunning the weak Polish army and cavalry, still equipped for World War I. By the end of the month all of Poland had fallen. Now 3,000,000 Jews came under the control of the swastika, 20 per cent the Polish population in 1939. Almost immediately, these Jews were placed into ghettos in Warsaw, Kracow, and other large Polish cities and towns, with little sanitation and access to medical facilities. Stopped from trading and effectively cut off from the rest of the world, these communities were effectively isolated, being prepared and â€Å"softened up† for further more drastic treatment. Concentration and labour camps were initially established for punishment for those who offended Hitler or did not fit his ideal Nazi regime. As early as 1933 in Germany, Sachsenhausen and Dachau were places of dread but families were still able to â€Å"bribe† their loved ones out of the camps. Following the invasion of Poland the Nazis were faced with resolving the â€Å"Jewish Problem†. The solution was entrusted by Hitler to Heydrich and Eichmann, both virulent anti-semites, the former a soldier, the latter an administrator. The concentration camps, now full following larger and larger transports of Jews and large numbers of Russian prisoners of war, Polish resistance fighters and others, had to be emptied. Natural wastage by death from disease, malnutrition and beatings would not result in a fast enough solution. Mass murder by bullets or lethal injection was expensive and wasteful in terms of resources, and had a morale depressing effect on the soldiers employed. To accommodate Hitler's demonic vision, On January 20, 1942, a conference was convened under expressed orders from Nazi leadership under the chairmanship of the brilliantly evil Rheinhardt Heydrich. With tea and crumpets, in fewer than two hours of deliberation at the former Jewish-owned Wansee chateau in the outskirts of Berlin, the Nazi officers, including Aldolph Eichmann, created the policy to assure the systematic destruction of Europe's Jewish population. A Final Solution had been formed which was unchangeable. The solution chosen was the creation of mass Extermination Camps, mainly in Poland to which would be transported all the Jews of Europe. Killing began in earnest on or near the homes of the populations, which the Nazis had targeted. Within a short time, the small camp of Auschwitz was enlarged into Auschwitz-Birkenau) a massive death camp in which Jews were gassed and their bodies cremated in a nearby area known for its birch trees, (Birkenau in German). Thus, the infamous death factory at Birkenau was created with the huge crematoria nestled among the groves of once beautiful and peaceful birch trees. Five other sites were chosen for additional death camps. Auschwitz-Birkenau, as the huge complex was to become known, was by far the largest in which well over one million and a half people, nearly 90 percent of whom were Jewish, were put to death and cremated. Notwithstanding the need to continue the huge war effort against the Allied Forces, which included the massively powerful American war machine the Nazis vigorously pursued their plan to destroy every Jew within Europe. As a result, one third of the entire world Jewish population was killed during the Holocaust. The few gates of escape to Allied countries, were systematically closed: the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain, parts of Latin America and elsewhere. The lucky few who could find a way out often survived without the rest of their family. By 1944, the height of the extermination of the Jews, there were over 650 death, labour, concentration, camps and ghettos. Of the millions of Jewish people so imprisoned a very small percentage survived to give testimony to the unimaginable crimes which had been committed. Those who did so survive, faced the prospect of reconstructing their lives, more often than not with no money, family, possessions or state. Hitler had identified the â€Å"problem† in Mein Kampf, had thought that he had solved the problem by expelling the Jews of Germany, but ultimately had found that his success in battle multiplied his problem, from which there was to be only one route for the Nazis to take – the eradication of European Jewry by extermination.

The Impact of Medical Technology on Health Care Finance

| The Impact of Medical Technology on Health Care Finance| Patricia Brewer| | | | | Health care costs have been rising for several years. United States health care Expenditures surpassed $2. 3 trillion in 2008, more than three times the $714 billion spent in 1990, and over eight times the $253 billion spent in 1980 (Kimbuende, 2010). Slowing this growth has become a major policy priority, as the government, employers, and consumers increasingly struggle to keep up with health care costs.In 2008, U. S. health care spending was about $7,681 per resident and accounted for 16. 2% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product. This is among the highest of all industrialized countries. Total health care expenditures grew at an annual rate of 4. 4 percent in 2008, a slower rate than recent years, yet still outpacing inflation and the growth in national income. There is a general agreement that health costs are likely to continue to rise in the near future.Many analysts have cited controllin g health care costs as a key for broader economic stability and growth, and President Obama has made cost control a focus of health reform efforts under way. By 2016, total health spending is projected to rise to $4. 2 trillion. Rising health care costs raise health insurance premiums, which are also growing at a much quicker pace than overall inflation or workers' earnings. Health spending has been rising two and a half percent a year, faster than the gross domestic product over the past four decades (Covington, 2008).Although Americans benefit from many of the investments in health care, the recent rapid cost growth, plus with an overall economic slowdown and rising federal deficit, is placing great strains on the systems used to finance health care, including private employer-sponsored health insurance coverage and public insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Since 1999, family premiums for employer-sponsored health coverage have increased by 131 percent, placing incr easing cost burdens on employers and workers.The average cost of a one-day stay in a hospital has now risen to over $500, the total cost of a coronary bypass operation and follow-up treatment has reached $37,300, and the average cost of delivering a baby now exceeds $2500. As costs have increased, fewer people have been able to afford the medical care they need. Over 37 million Americans, including over 12 million children, carry no health insurance at all and are unable to afford private health care, they must rely on a public health system that cannot deal with such a burden.With workers’ wages growing at a much slower pace than health care costs, many face difficulty in affording out-of-pocket spending. Government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, also account for a significant share of health care spending, but they have increased at a slower rate than other private insurance. Medicare per capita spending has grown at a slightly lower rate, on average, than private health insurance spending, at about 6. 8 vs. 7. 1% annually between 1998 and 2008.Medicaid expenditures, similarly, have grown at slower rate than private spending, though enrollment in the program has increased during the current economic recession, which may result in increased Medicaid spending figures in the near future (Kimbuende, 2010). A major cause of the rise in health care spending is due to advancements in medicine and technology. Both have improved and lengthened the lives of many Americans, but as most know they do not come without a cost. Newly rising procedures are often expensive to give and increase overall health care spending. According to theCongressional Budget Office, â€Å"the bulk of increases in health care spending could be attributed to the development and dissemination of new technologies and medical services. † Such advancements also lead to changes in practice, which together tend to increase spending. Consumer demand and increased utilization a dd to costs (â€Å"Changes in Medical Technology,† 2007). Ethics comes in at this point because medical technology is highly valued as a â€Å"beloved feature of American medicine. † Patients expect up to date procedures, doctors are primarily trained to use it, and the medical industries make billions of dollars selling it.The rising costs are seen as a major issue because many people in the United States aid from the new procedures and treatments produced each year. Medical technology refers to the procedures, equipment, and processes by which medical care is delivered (Barbash, 2008). Changes or advancements in technology would include new medical and surgical procedures, as well as new drugs and medical devices, such as scanners and defibrillators. Also the recent rise and interest in universalizing Electronic Medical Records and the use of preventive medicine has attributed to the growing costs.Technological innovation has given us vaccines, antibiotics, advanced heart disease care, splendid surgical advances, and fine cancer treatments (Barbash, 2008). Most health policy analysts agree that the long- term increase in health care spending is principally the result of the health care system’s incorporation of these new services in clinical practice. A robotic surgical device is an example of how technology advancement can increase health care costs. These high tech procedures of becoming extremely popular and seem to be the future of surgery.These robots allow surgeons to operate remote-controlled robotic arms, which may facilitate the performance of laparoscopic procedures. Laparoscopic surgery is associated with shorter hospital stays than open surgery, as well as with less postoperative pain and scarring, and lower risks of infection and need for blood transfusion. Robotic technology has been adopted rapidly over the past four years in both the United States and Europe. The number of robot-assisted procedures that are performed worl dwide have nearly tripled since 2007, from 80,000 to 205,000. Robotic technology affects expenditures by increasing the cost per procedure.Robotic surgical systems have high fixed costs, with prices ranging from $1 million to $2. 5 million for each unit. Surgeons must perform 150 to 250 procedures to become adept in their use (â€Å"Robotic Surgery Technology,† 2006). The systems also require costly maintenance and demand the use of additional consumables. The use of robotic systems may also require more operating time than alternatives. Robot- assisted procedures may contribute to shorter hospital stays, which will decrease costs, but at the same time require physicians to train on these instruments. Each instrument is a pricey expenditure for a hospital to pay for (Barbash, 2008).To maintain these instruments and keep them up to date will be an added cost as well. These instruments perform miracles and may seem like a wonderful addition to the surgical world, but are not ch eap. Advancements in scanner technology, such as CT’s, allows for greater visibility at a higher resolution than was possible before. Innovative scanners, advanced applications, and exciting breakthroughs in clinical procedures are driving an increased use of a CT as a primary diagnostic tool for procedures such as colonography, cancer detection and staging, lung analysis, cardiac studies and radiotherapy planning (â€Å"Diagnostic Imaging,† 2011).Hospitals and other health care facilities are pressured to purchase such equipment to keep up with the public demand for these high-specialized tests. With out such machines and technology the public will turn elsewhere to receive the care that they so desire and need, which will end in a loss of profit for such hospitals and other facilities. Another technological advancement that has a great impact on healthcare finance is the emergence of the Electronic Medical Record. Electronic Medical Records is a computerized medical record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office.Electronic medical records tend to be a part of a local stand-alone health information system that allows storage, retrieval and modification of records. The 2003 IOM Patient Safety Report describes an EMR as, â€Å"a longitudinal collection of electronic health information for and about persons, immediate electronic access to person- and population-level information by authorized users, and provision of knowledge and decision-support systems that enhance the quality, safety, and efficiency of patient care (â€Å"Electronic Medical Records,†2011). † The adoption of these records can be quite costly.The price of an EMR system can range from a thousand dollars to ten thousand dollars, and in some cases they can cost even more. EMR costs increase as the system becomes more feature-rich. Huge facilities can buy complete EMR systems that cost around plus forty thousand dollars. Tr aining and maintenance costs also have to be taken into account when purchasing EMR’s. All staff must be trained to operate the new machines, coming familiar with the new software and patient records. If you want to utilize the EMR product to its full potential, then you need hardware that perfectly complements the software.Purchasing computers and up to date software that will last for the long term is also an added cost. These systems also require maintenance to keep them working sufficiently. A facility may also need to hire a networking professional to monitor and maintain the network in their facilities. A networking expert will ensure that the workstations remain connected to each other and seamlessly exchange data (â€Å"Electronic Medical Records,† 2011). The installation and upkeep of EMR’s is not a cheap process. Many hospitals and private facilities are hesitant to make the improvement.The costly technology can improve the quality of care for patients by knowing ones medical history and prescription drugs they are on or allergic too. It can also decrease unnecessary testing in many cases. President Barack Obama, as part of the effort to revive the economy, has proposed a massive effort to modernize health care by making all health records standardized and electronic. His aim is to computerize all health records within five years. He believes the quality of health care for all Americans gets a big boost, and osts will decline. Independent studies from Harvard, RAND and the Commonwealth Fund have shown that such a plan could cost at least $75 billion to $100 billion over the ten years they think the hospitals would need to implement program. The healthcare initiative will be one of the priciest parts of the plan. Along with the high costs a major concern of the government is that lack of skilled workers to build and implement the necessary technology. The biggest cost will be paying and training the labor force needed to create th e network.The savings of such a plan could be substantial. The government estimates that a fully computerized health record system could save the industry $200 billion to $300 billion a year, and could ultimately slow the rapid rise of health care premiums, which have cut into Americans' pay checks. There are many advantages that the Electronic Medical Records pose for both patients and physicians. The EMR can reduce errors in medical records. Handwritten records are subject to lots of human errors due to misspelling, illegibility, and differing terminologies.On-screen or printed text is often far more legible than handwritten. This can help prevent patient’s receiving the wrong medication or procedures, saving doctors from medical malpractice suits (Molar, 2010). Clinical errors cause at least 44,000 deaths annually in the United States. These deaths largely result from process errors, or the failure to provide recommended treatments for patients with certain medical conditi ons. With direct medical costs estimated at $17 billion annually, these errors impose a substantial burden on both the health care system and society as a whole.The real time paperless record include reducing the need for costly reproductions of laboratory findings and diagnostic reports, which in many health care facilities are still typed, copied, and physically carried to a hospital floor, clinic office, or medical records room to be placed in the patient's chart (Hunt, 2009). Loss of reports, or delays, are common until this information reaches the chart and the providers. While wages are rising at a rate of around 3% a year, health care costs are growing at about three times that rate (Goldman, 2009).Prescription drugs also play a role in Health Care finance. Advances in pharmaceuticals have transformed health care over the last several decades. Today, many health problems are prevented, cured, or managed effectively for years through the use of prescription drugs. In some case s, the use of prescription medicines keeps people from needing other expensive health care such as being hospitalized or having surgery. In 2007, 90% of seniors and 58% of non-elderly adults rely on a prescription medicine on a regular basis (Kimbuende, 2010).Since the 1990s spending on prescription drugs has been a much more prominent component of growth in total spending. From 1995 to 2005, it grew by an average of about 10 percent per year and is still on the rise as the future of prescription drugs lies in the baby boomer generation (â€Å"Technological Change,† 2008). Increased Medical Technology has led to the use of defensive medicine by many health care physicians. Defensive Medicine refers to services that have little or no clinical value, but that physicians order or perform at least to avoid lawsuits (â€Å"Technological Change,†2008).With high malpractice premiums, more physicians everyday are turning to this type of practice. It is raising health care cost s by performing unnecessary tests and procedures on patients that may not need them. There is reason to believe that new technology can in fact reduce health care spending. Some vaccines may offer the potential for savings, and certain types of preventive medical care may help some patients avoid costly hospitalization for acute care. Future advances in molecular biology and genetics, may one day offer the possibility of savings if they make curative therapies available.Continued advances in understanding the genetic origins of disease offer the credible possibility that future providers will accurately predict the health risks faced by individual patients and design therapies tailored specifically to them (Convington, 2008). Overall, examples of new treatments for which long-term savings have been clearly demonstrated are few. Many medical advances to date have increased spending because they made treatments available for conditions that were previously impossible to treat or were not aggressively treated.Furthermore, improvements in medical care that decrease mortality by helping patients avoid or survive acute health problems paradoxically increase overall spending on health care because surviving patients live longer and therefore use health services for more years (â€Å"Technological Change,† 2008). With the baby boomers approaching retirement age and living past recent life expectancy age, health care costs are projected to rise even further. Technological advances and new medicines and prescription drugs are keeping people alive longer and putting a strain on our health care system.In coming decades, the share of the population that is covered by Medicare will expand rapidly as members of the baby- boom generation become eligible for the program, and the share that uses long-term care services financed by Medicaid will also probably increase. According to the American Hospital Association, â€Å"the first boomers will reach 65 in 2011 and 37 mi llion of them will be managing one chronic condition by 2030. † Also 14 million Boomers will be living with diabetes, that's one out of every four Boomers. Almost half of this generation will live with arthritis, and that number peaks to just over 26 million in 2020.More than one out of three Boomers, over 21 million, will be considered obese. As these patients live with multiple chronic diseases, demand for services will increase. The number of physician visits has been increasing for all adults, up 34 percent over the last decade, and this trend is expected to continue. By 2020, Boomers will account for four in 10 office visits to physicians and over the next 20 years, Boomers will make up a greater proportion of hospitalizations as they live longer but with multiple complex conditions.At the same time, the number of registered nurses, primary care and specialty physicians will not keep pace with demand. As the Boomer generation is more racially and ethnically diverse, there will also be a greater need for caregivers who reflect the diversity of and increase in this population (â€Å"How Boomers will change Health Care,†2007). With changing demands, expectations and new technology, care delivery will also change. Boomers have lived through an amazing array of medical advances, from polio vaccine to radical heart surgery, and that trend will continue over the next two decades.Medical Advancements are taking place every day and are given rise to growing health care costs. Rising health care expenditures lead to the question of whether we are getting value for the money we spend. Compared to other high-income countries, the U. S. spends more, but this spending is not reflected in greater health care resources, such as hospital beds, physicians, nurses, MRIs, and CT scanners per capita  or better measures of health. The United States needs to figure out a way to use these advancements to our benefit and reduce cost while maintaining good quality o f care to every patient.With the growing elderly population, medical technology is in high demand as many people over 65 are suffering with at least one chronic condition. The Untied States government and health care providers need to figure out a way to reduce the health care costs. The incorporation of preventive medicine and Electronic Medical Records can aid in cost reduction for the future. Unnecessary testing should be avoided to also help reduce costs. Hopefully, EMR’s can reduce the amount of tests being performed and duplicated.Policies focusing on new and expanding technologies may have success in reducing the rate of growing health care costs but can be difficult to implement. In the long run, bringing health spending growth closer to the rate of overall economic growth would require finding ways to slow the development and diffusion of new healthcare technologies and practices, as well as developing ways to weigh the costs and benefits of new technologies (â€Å" Technological change,† 2008). References Barbash, G. (2010). New Technology and Health Care Costs. New England Journal of Medicine.Retrieved from http://www. nejm. org/doi/full/10. 1056/NEJMp1006602 Convington, L. (2008). An Alliance for Health Reform. Retrieved From http://www. allhealth. org/publications/cost_of_health_care/health_care_costs_toolk Diagnostic Imaging. (2011). Hospital and Healthcare Management. Retrieved From http://www. asianhhm. com/medical_sciences/advances_CT_technology. htm Electronic Medical Records. (2011). Open Clinical. Retrieved From http://www. openclinical. org/emr. html Goldman, D. (2009). Obama’s big idea: Digital Health Records.New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2011, from http://www. nytimes. com/subscriptions/Multiproduct/lp3004. html? campaignId=384LY How Boomers Will Change Health Care. (2007). American Hospital Association. Retrieved From http://aha. org How Changes in Medical Technology affect Health Care Costs. (2007). Retrieve d From http://www. kff. org/insurance/snapshot/chcm030807oth. cfm Johns Hopkins University (2006, November 28). Robotic Surgery Technology Gives Doctors ‘Sense Of Touch'. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 6, 2011, from http://www. ciencedaily. com ­ /releases/2006/11/061128121916. htm Kimbuende, E. (2010). Health Care Costs. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved From http://www. kaiseredu. org/Issue-Modules/Prescription-Drug-Costs/Background-Brief Technological change and the Growth of Health Care Spending. (2008). Congressional Budge Office Retrieved From http://www. cbo. gov/ftpdocs/89xx/doc8947/01-31-TechHealth. pdf The Long Term Outlook for Health Care Spending. (2007). Congressional Budget Office Retrieved From http://www. cbo. gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8758/11-13-LT-Health. pdf

Different cultures Essay

In the past, different cultures have been developing in various ways and in different parts of the world. These cultures have been influencing the living styles of various nations in the world. It is now very important that different countries be grouped according to their cultural beliefs and civilization e. g. European communities will share those cultures which will differentiate them from those people who are coming from China or Africa. It is believed that those cultural differences of people in the world will clash based on where and how an individual was civilized. This is mainly the ‘clash of civilization’, the concept of Harvard professor Samuel Huntington. This is because people from different parts have ways on which they were civilized and they have different views on the way they view about life,the way they relate to one another and on their various religious beliefs. †We have moved into a world in which ‘civilisation’, some seven or eight of them, and defined much as Arnold Toynbee and some other scholars defined them in the first half of this century,are the building blocks of the new world order† Huntington added. Also most people these days are traveling a lot and therefore the interaction between people from different parts of the world and of different civilization is increasing. These interactions of different people from different civilizations has increased the awareness that this kind of difference in culture exists all over the world, Africa immigration will generate hostility when they settle on European or Asian nations. This is typically due to the clash in their culture. A country whose culture is completely different from another has a problem in investing in a foreign land as compared to those other rivals in the same land. This is because most countries fear to give investment license or such countries due to different ways in their cultural beliefs. The process of economic development and socialization has also resulted in the clash on the ways people live. Samuel Huntington once said†,Pattern of trade will be decisively influnced by pattern of culture†. The different religious beliefs in most of the different cultures is an example of this. We find that there are various types of religions in the world today. These are Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Another reason which brought about the clash in different culture was the way in which people in different parts of the world viewed about civilization. Many communities found civilization rather hard to adopt because it had other believes and cultures which clashed with their original beliefs. This made different communities to quit the idea of civilization of adopting the western culture and replacing it with their original beliefs. De-westernization has therefore been seen in many non-western countries. ( http://www. bintjbeil. com/articles/en/d-huntington. html). The cultural beliefs of people originating from different parts of the world are very hard to adopt to the same culture unlike other things such as economic and political ones. This is because cultural beliefs of more than two nations are not compatible, rather they are clashing. For example a political system of one country can be adopted by another country but the religious issues are far more complex to be adopted form one country to anothere. g. Muslims are very hard to change and start believing in Christianity but they will be very easily convinced to accept to change and adopt other country’s leadership styles. People of the same civilization have also been known to spur economic growth. This has mostly been witnessed in Europe, East Asia and North America. The development of the nations living in this regions usually is because these people have the same civilization and almost the same beliefs in terms of their culture and their social lifestyles. A country like Japan on the other hand who entirely have different civilization has faced a lot of hurdles in their economic development. Their lifestyles and its cultural beliefs have been known to be clashing with that of its neighbors and therefore making it hard for them to get a business partner with the same interests and beliefs. Thus reducing the rate of their growth. (Ghost, 2003) Yes Huntington’s point of view is supported. This is because there are numerous conflicting issues on people living in different parts of the world today. Huntington described an era in which people everywhere define themselves in cultural terms, ‘ a world in which cultural identities are central’. There is a pre-dominant clash of ideas between the religious communities. This is because there is a split between the western Christianity, Orthodox and the Muslims. These difference are traced to have occurred in the year 1500. There were cultural lines which were traced to have been the source to the different cultural belief of these communities. The people who were living to the west and the north of the line were protestant and others were Catholics. They were economically well of than those who were living to the East. The differences and the conflict of various issues between western and Islamic civilization has been going on for almost 140 years. This was mainly due to the attempt by the westerners to introduce Christianity in the Islamic region which faced a lot of oppositions mainly because various issues regarding the beliefs and norms of Muslims culture were conflicting with those of the Christians. The relationships existing between Japan and America has of late worsened so much. This is mainly due to the culture differences which will result to economic conflicts. The attitudes, and the way people relate to each other between the two societies are very mush different. As compared to the European nations, the economic issue between United States and Japan are very serious. This is because the economic difference in culture between United States and the European nations is far much less as compared to those of Japan civilization. Japanese civilization is very much different because their geographical location is far away as compared to the geographical location dividing America from European nations. This has resulted to a very different type of culture being developed in Japan which on the other hand conflict with that of Americans. ( Edwards, & Glover, 2001). According to Huntington, ‘East Asian economic success has its source in East Asian culture’. Culture and civilization have also influenced economies of various countries. Chinese economy ha been enormously growing within the last 15 years than that of Japan. These growth in the China’s economy has been a result of almost the same culture and civilization china enjoyed with its immediate neighbors. Unlike Japan who did not have some cultural resemblance with other nations, china had almost the same cultural beliefs with most of the developing nations in Asia. These countries include Taiwan-which are very much advanced in technological issues, Hong Kong – which is known for the creativity and marketing strategies, Singapore –which is very rich in communication technology. All these three have the same civilization as that of China and therefore they can understand each other in terms of being trading partners, carrying out investment and also respecting each others religious beliefs. (Murshed, 2002) The increase in population among the various countries in the world has resulted to the migration of people. This has mainly occurred in countries particular those living in the Northern part of Africa. The communities living in these parts are then forced to move to western Europe. This movement has resulted to development of other cultures in these countries. These then leads to instability in the normal social life of the citizens in the country both religiously and culturally. The results might be emergence of racism which might cause violence in the country. Reference: Edwards, Rusalind & Glover Judith. Risk and Citizenship: key issues in welfare. New York. Routledge, 2001. Ghost, B. N. Contemporary issues in Development Economics. New York. Routledge, 2003 The clash of civilizations. Samuel Huntington. September 1993. Bint Jbeil. 22/10/2007.http://www.bintjbeil.com/articles/en/d-huntington.html

Oral Film History Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Oral Film History Report - Essay Example 8. Did you read any film magazines (which ones?) or write fan letters? 9. Is there anything special that they think you should know about the movies before 1990? 10. How did film-going differ then compared to now? Oral History Essay Few days ago I interviewed my friend’s mother Ms. Emma, who was born in 1967, and she has just celebrated her 46th birthday on May 30th 2013. Ms Emma is a very fun loving person. She was born in Chicago and had a fun filled childhood with her family and friends in her growing age. Now she stays in Manhattan with her husband and children. Ms. Emma tells about how she spent her teenage phase when going to movie was really fun and full of enjoyment. It was a pleasure to hear her become nostalgic about her teens and talk about how movies played a significant role during her young years. When I asked about her favorite film or actor that marked her adolescence, Ms. Emma replied that she loved this movie called â€Å"The Breakfast Club†. It has ma de a great impact during her adolescence period because this movie was all about five high school students from different origin and about their evolving friendship. The movie depicted friends who met in Chicago; all the occasions in it were just like the real incidents happening in Chicago at that time. She said that as on a growing up teenager this type of movies related to school and friends made a realistic effect on her life. Another movie she loved to watch that time was â€Å"High School† though it was little old one but she liked it a lot. She explained that this was documentary film by director Fredrick Wiseman that showed some cases from the usual days in Northeast High School, their teachers and students relationship. While growing up she watched this movie several times as it used to come on television and during that tender age it manifested her thoughts deeply. Ms. Emma while explaining all these seemed very happy and was thoroughly enjoying the conversation. Yo ung girls often have infatuation or an attraction towards, so I was eager to know if she had any such experience regarding any of the teen actors or actor of her age at that time. When I asked about her crush on any teen actor, she said actually she liked most of the movie actors which she watched and did not have crush on any particular teen actor. The main movie theaters were on the Division Street Road. Ms. Emma said when she was in her teens, she and her friends used to watch the movies in the morning shows because the ticket price cost less than evening and night shows at that time. Division Street Road where the theaters were located was in the downtown which was around 2hrs journey from Ms. Emma’s house. So if Ms. Emma and her friends wanted to watch a movie they need to make prior arrangements for that. They have things to eat and drink. Ms. Emma said sometimes they had group of friends and families who went for movies together. Going for movie was like a day outing f or them and they had lots of fun. I was curious to know if she watched movies just for fun or did she have a choice for any specific genre. I was interested to know whether she was interested more in thriller or horror or romantic comedies as the choice of genre sometimes determines a person’s nature and overall interests. So when I asked about her favorite genre, director or stars she was very excited and without any second thought she replied that she had a huge crush on Tom Hanks. Ms. Emma said Tom Hanks is among the highest paid all time box office star. I

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle - Essay Example Despite the enigma that surrounds his life and his teachings, Socrates is today considered by many scholars to be one of the fathers of Western philosophy. His student, Plato, has done most of his thoughts and ideas that have been put down in writing because there is no record of his thought ever being written down during his lifetime. Based on this, it is very difficult to distinguish between the thought that was of Socrates and what was Plato is because it can be suspected that Plato may have put some of his ideas into the mouth of Socrates to make them seem more credible to his audience due to Socrates’ reputation. The dialectic method of enquiry can be considered Socrates’ most lasting contribution to Western philosophy, which tended mostly to be applied when dealing with moral matters such as what was good and just within the society. The dialectic method, which Socrates used, was first described by Plato when he stated that in order to solve a problem; this problem would be split into a series of questions the answers to which would eventually create a logical solution (McCall 1935 – 1936). The scientific method that is used today is heavily influenced by Socrates’ dialectic method of enquiry because a hypothesis for the solution of a problem is often the first stage in the scientific method. Socrates’ development and practicing of the dialectic method is what has earned him his place as one of the fathers of Western philosophy as well as the creator of the study of political philosophy, and moral philosophy.

Organisation of the body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organisation of the body - Essay Example It has several functions, including; the control of DNA replication and gene expression, prevention of damage to DNA, enhancing mitosis by strengthening DNA, and packaging DNA strands to fit in nucleus (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p27). This entails a network of membranes or tubes that connect the cellular membrane to the nuclear envelope. Involved in the metabolism of steroids and carbohydrates, synthesis of steroids and lipids, and receptor attachment on proteins of the cell membrane (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p41). This is an endoplasmic reticulum studded on the outer surface with attached ribosomes, compared to SER that have none. These ribosomes manufacture proteins and deposit them in the lumen of the RER, after which they are transported as vesicles to the Golgi complex (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p41). A stack of flattened compartments or sacs that receive proteins from the RER, which is crucial in the transport and modification of proteins. It is involved in the modification, packaging, and export of proteins to other cell organelles, such as the mitochondria, or for secretion by the cell (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p43). They are tail-like projections found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes and protrude from their cell body. They are longer than cilia, but fewer in number, and their major function is locomotion through whip-like movements that propel the cell through liquid matter (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p32). These are peanut-shaped organelles with double membranes, whereby the inner membrane is folded to form cristae. Aerobic cellular respiration occurs here, as well as the breakdown of sugar molecules for production of energy in the form of ATP (Lloyd & Beck, 2012: p19). This is a large, oval organelle, which has at least one nucleolus and contains DNA. It also holds the cell’s hereditary material. Its main function is to control the activities of the cell, particularly with regards to reproduction,

Econ. 2010 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Econ. 2010 - Essay Example A higher price, however, will put them at a disadvantage because it will lessen their purchasing power, as a result they will demand less of that good. This decision will cause a change in demand as they will try to look for some alternatives or substitutes for that product. This is also known as the substitution effect. A seller may see the situation differently. A lower price is not as encouraging as a higher price. This means that the sellers are more willing to make their goods available in the market at higher prices because this means more profit. The shortage in the supply of grain had caused the prices to go up and the additional supply due to the better weather caused the prices to fall. This is a pricing mechanism in a purely competitive product market. Shortage is when the quantity demanded is greater than quantity supplied resulting to a higher selling price while surplus happens because quantity supplied exceeded what the market demanded. When neither shortage nor surplu s exists, the price and quantity supplied and demanded are at equilibrium. The equilibrium price and quantity is where selling and buying decision are synchronized or coordinated as a rationing function of prices (McConnell and Brue, p.58).

Compare and Contrast God's nature in the Book of Proverbs, Book of Term Paper

Compare and Contrast God's nature in the Book of Proverbs, Book of Ecclesiastes and the Book of Job - Term Paper Example The book of Proverbs on the other hand gives an account of the expressions of man in the radiance of God’s wisdom and counsel. The book does this through giving of practical living teachings, righteousness and actions as well as attitudes that are godly. Lastly, Ecclesiastes gives an expression of man to himself, as he appears to question the existence of inequities as well as idiocy in life (Whybray 24). Job provides for an exception of the general rule that is depicted in Proverbs, as it does not matter how Job lived as the supernatural powers in this case God, demons and angles. The supernatural powers also include persons who could interrupt the formal way of things and have the Book of Proverbs to seem untruthful to persons who aspires to live wisely but finds his life a disaster. This is different from the book of Ecclesiastes that provides accounts that we can relate to be as true to the normal personal experiences that persons can live a horrible life but still be succ essful. One could possibly read the proverbs and identify a clear theme being emphasized unlike the Job. Job is better understood if read as a whole unlike any other book in the Old Testament (Whybray 28). ... Wisdom literature is divided into two namely; speculative and proverbial wisdom. Proverbial wisdom is displayed in the book of proverbs whereby pithy, short sayings whereby God’s nature is revealed in set rules for personal welfare and happiness. Speculative wisdom is found in the book of Ecclesiastes and Jobs. Wisdom in Ecclesiastes is in term of monologues whereas job wisdom literature is that of dialogues. In this type of speculative wisdom, God nature is revealed through problems as a way of shaping the relationship between people and God (Rowley, p. 234). To begin with, the Book of Job purposes to give a justification of Job’s fear for God. The book is a direct of companion to the facts of the accounts of life that were written by Solomon in the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Despite him being wealthy (Job 1:13), Job undergoes a lot of suffering and gives us the true illustrations of faith, trust and perseverance. Through the book God’s character and ju stice is placed at the forefront of all the discussions that Job had with his friends. In Job 3, job curses the day of his birth and relates it to darkness, chaos and gloom as well as cursing his maker we are made to seek to know if at all man can be just and blameless in the eyes of the Lord. Through Eliphaz (Job 6:24-30) we are given the idea that God only reproves those who are unjust and wicked and this is believed to be the cause for Job’s suffering. However, Job accounts that no man is just and blameless before the lord and is quick to ask for clemency. The book incites diverse interpretations, which range from basic morality to philosophical discussions (Rowley, 295). The book emphasizes on the importance of wisdom, as this is what Job

Coal Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Coal Energy - Essay Example Millions of people depend on it for their living. (Bisk). But because of the strong protests from environmentalists, it was difficult to process these coal energies for the energy requirements of United States. This article argues that the cavalier attitude of ivory tower environmentalists towards the millions of working and middle class people who make their livings (directly and indirectly) from coal creates enemies of the environmental movement amongst the very people who should be the most avid allies of environmentalism (Bisk). It suggests some ways of preventing the environment problems caused by the processing or extraction of coal energy through coal liquification. It focuses its attention on the link between the worlds large coal reserves and the green energy movement. Energy crisis is one of the severe problems faced by many countries irrespective developed or developing. The huge population growth and the heavy industrialization processes made energy an inevitable entity for the modern life. It is unimaginable to think about a world without electricity or vehicles. At the same time most of the conventional energy sources like coal and petroleum are non-renewable energies and also the processing of these energy sources is creating lot of problems to the environment. Environmentalists have raised a huge protest against the injudicious processing of coal like energy sources. The article suggests that by using coal liquification process US can produce a barrel of oil for about $30. Even though this process may release more CO2 than the extraction and refinement of liquid fuel from petroleum the author suggests some ways to counter such problems. In his opinion; the environmentalist’s protests can be reduced if the coal liquification process would liberate only half a ton of CO2 for every ton of greenhouse

Story of mankind Essay Example for Free

Story of mankind Essay Siddhartha is the story of mankind; the continuous search for knowledge and the understanding that what people know, no matter how old, experienced, and knowledgeable they might be, is smaller than what there is to discover and is insufficient to reach the complete comprehension and satisfaction that are, according to the main character of the story, obtainable. In the beginning of his life, and of his journey, he is the son of a Brahmin; a wealthy man who wanted his son to have the best knowledge about everything of life. This fact is evident when we see Siddhartha absorbing all the knowledge that was being passed to him from his teacher and that he was able to discuss the deepest and most important of subjects with the elders; those whom were considered to be the most knowledgeable. â€Å"Joy leapt in his father’s heart for his son who was quick to learn, thirsty for knowledge; he saw him growing up to become a great wise man and priest, a prince among the Brahmans† (Archie, Baggett, Poston, and G. Archie, 2). Siddhartha realizes that his need to know is much higher than anything else; he understood that staying in his village, living the same life as others, would not make him comprehend the essence of life and the meaning of everything. â€Å"Siddhartha, was not a source of joy for himself, he found no delight in himself† (Archie, et al. , 3). He felt that his soul would not be in peace if he would not take the right step in the pursuit of knowledge: To become a Samana. What he was aiming at was to be able to free himself from all human weaknesses, such as thirsts, sorrows, pleasures and desires. But even after learning from the Samanas, he found that he was still empty; he needed more than what they offered. He did not want to hear about the various experiences of life, and about the great things to comprehend, he needed to pass through all the experiences himself and to be a part of everything that is there to know and understand. This was the main reason why he decided to take the next step: The step of setting out on a journey, and to become a Saman himself. Meeting Gotama, the Buddha, and learning from him was not enough for Siddhartha, he wanted even more than that, he wanted to reach the absolute knowledge about one’s self, about one’s soul, and about the whole meaning of everything. In this stage, he discovered one of the most significant facts about himself: â€Å"That I know nothing about myself, that Siddhartha has remained thus alien and unknown to me, stems from one cause, a single cause: I was afraid of myself, I was fleeing from myself† (Archie, et al., 36). He left his companion, Govinda, with Gotama, and continued on his journey by himself. The story he lived afterwards with a woman (Kamala) whom he thought that he loved was another step. He became a merchant and started to love money, but then he realized that money, love and the various pleasures he was having were not what he wanted in life. He began, once again, to realize that this is not what made him set on that journey, and that even though he possessed many material things, he really had nothing. From there, he decided to go back to the river, to become a ferryman as he was when he learned everything from Vasuedeva about the river and about the roads and meanings of each step in that direction. He left everything and started again hoping to find the truth and hoping to reach his original objective, which was lost in the midst of pleasures and money. All the previous experiences led him to think of taking his life, but then the sacred word ‘Om’ saved him and put him back in the right path. And with the help of Govinda, he understood what he wanted; he went back, found a wife, and made a family. His son, shortly after his death, set on a journey to find knowledge and to reach the truth. Who is Siddhartha? He is every one of us from the beginning of time. He is every man and woman that walked the earth. He represents all the questions and doubts and suspicions that each individual has about life; his/her life, and the lives of everyone else. He stands for life itself, with its pleasures, pains, and happy moments. He was a Brahmin’s son, a student, a rebel, a Samana, a merchant, and a ferryman, but in the same time, he was none of them and all of them. Because he is the symbol of every living experience that anyone of us can have in his/her life. Siddhartha was simply a human being. Works Cited Archie, L. , Baggett, J. , Poston, B. , and Archie, J. (Eds. ). (2004). Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha. Retrieved October 03, 2006, from the World Wide Web: http://philosophy.lander.edu/oriental/siddhartha.pdf

Comparison of Hes Just Not That Into You and 17 Again

Comparison of Hes Just Not That Into You and 17 Again People are always looking forward to watch romantic comedy movie as a way to spend time together with their beloved ones. In fact, romantic comedy is a general phrase for comedies that basically deal with the foolishness and misunderstanding of either young or middle aged lovers, in a light-hearted and happily manner which commonly inhibits serious parody. A typical plot of a romantic comedy is that two main characters, usually a man and a woman, come across, part away due to conflicts or other obstacles, then finally reunite. There are many options of romantic comedy movies to choose. The two romantic comedy movies which I choose to compare and contrast are â€Å"Hes just not that into you† and â€Å"17 Again†. Even though both movies have the same genre, that is romantic comedy, but they are different in terms of settings, story lines, and moral value. First and foremost, the settings of these two movies are different. â€Å"Hes just not that into you† was set primarily in middle aged adult working environment at Baltimore, Maryland, USA where as â€Å"17 Again† was set in teenager high school kind of environment at Los Angeles, California, USA. The characters present in the â€Å"Hes just not that into you† were mainly middle aged working adults and â€Å"17 Again† were teenagers and their parents. Secondly, the most obvious dissimilarity of these movies is the story lines. â€Å"Hes just not that into you† is about a few characters struggling with ups and downs of their love lives in a complicated kind of way. At the centre of these multiple stories in one movie is Gigi, a young woman who repeatedly misunderstands the signs that men had given her about their level of interest in her. She got her advice from Alex, a bar owner who prides himself on perceiving the ins and outs of the dating scene. Gigis co-worker Janine found herself having difficulties in saving her marriage with her husband, Ben. On the other hand, Ben contemplated an affair with Anna, an attractive woman who was trying to make a career as a singer, from his wife. Another of Gigis friends at work, Beth, enjoyed a fruitful, healthy relationship with Neil, but soon storm clouds hover over them because he has no interest in getting married. In â€Å"17 Again†, it is about an unhappy working man who h ad transformed into a 17 years old teen in order to solve his family problems regarding his teen children and wife. At the age of 17, Mike ODonell was a successful person. Scarlett revealed she was pregnant before his basketball championship. After their marriage, Mike, a working man, complained the life he lost. One night, he saw a janitor standing on a bridge and jumped in after him. When he returned to his friends house he realized he was 17 again. He decided to take this opportunity to save his marriage and fix his relationship with his two teenage children. Furthermore, another dissimilarity that can be seen in both of these movies is the moral value. The moral value for the first movie is that we should not be a greedy person. In the movie, Ben who had an affair with Anna without his wife knowing eventually lost two of them in the end. For the second movie, the moral value emphasize on we should carry out our own responsibility regardless whether we are in a good or bad situation. In the movie, a young Mike ODonell carried out his responsibility by marrying his girlfriend who was pregnant with his child when they were both 17 years old. Here are the three main differences between â€Å"Hes just not that into you† and â€Å"17 Again†. As we can see, they break down to setting, story line and moral value that can be learnt through watching the movie. In a nutshell, both movies have their pros and cons despite they have the same genre.

Analysis Of The Gattaca Film Film Studies Essay

Analysis Of The Gattaca Film Film Studies Essay The film Gattaca explores the possibilities of future technology development, and the way in which these advances would affect society. For example, would a society composed of two distinct social classes, and the inequality between them really be an advance? Those who are not genetically manipulated to so -called perfection in a lab, but naturally conceived, are given the name in-valid god children or de-gene-erates , and are treated as second class. Natural conception in the not too distant future is rejected in the society of Gattaca, with genetic manipulation seen as what has become the natural way. Due to the discrimination of in-valids, what would present days multiculturalism and racial diversity be in a time such as that of Gattaca? Would the importance of individuality or personal identity be discarded? As Vincent tells the viewer: Today we have discrimination down to a science. Gattacas plot and character portrayal asks the viewer this, showing us that unique genetic makeup wouldnt matter- infact, personal qualities would be scrutinised, pushed aside and unwanted. It is clear that director Andrew Niccol aims to inform the viewer of this through such examples as Irenes heart defect which doesnt allow her to pursue her dream, even though she is a valid. Another example is Vincents only way to be accepted into society is to lie and assume a valids identity. Technology enables Vincent to do so, but infact it is technology that first leads to Vincents rejection from his surrounding world, as he was naturally conceived, and therefore is constant suffering under the burden to somehow be equally accepted. I believe Niccols message to the viewer is that in order to truly benefit from the power to change the environment, such as advances in technology giving us the ability to genetically manipulate, we first have to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of our actions to fully understand them. For instance, we must ask ourselves should equality, ambition and individuality be traded for catergorisation in an institutional system with distinction. As actor Jude Law, who plays Jerome, says: Andrew creates this manicured world in which human feelings are trying to burst out, in which the quest to make a better society has destroyed individuality. So if we were to live in a future such as that of Gattaca, wouldnt we lose more than we would gain? Explain the meaning of the quotes in the pre-exposition sequence. Which of these quotes is best supported by the film text? Consider Gods handiwork: who can straighten what he hath made crooked? Ecclesiastes 7:11 I feel this quote is the moral to be learnt within the films plot, as it asks the viewer why fix what isnt broken? In the society of Gattaca, wealth determines fate; what parents can afford decides how perfect their child will be. This raises the issue of in-valids separation from valids (and the whole surrounding society), and the suffocation of in-valids desires. This can be referred to with Vincent, as his longing to journey to space. The social hierarchy and racial differences in Gattaca therefore leave in-valids ultimately no reason to live. For instance, Vincent didnt have high expectations set on him by his parents as he was an in-valid, but still managed to pursue his dreams- only by following societys mould (appearing as a valid). This quote represents the idea that imperfections should be appreciated rather than dismissed, and that nature, despite its flaws is preferable to a genetically engineered existence due to its consequences. The viewer is shown that the importance o f individualism in nature is too valuable and complex to be overridden by genetics. I therefore feel that this quote more strongly supports the films plot and character portrayal. I not only think that we will tamper with Mother Nature. I think Mother wants us to. William Gaylin This quote, contradicting the previous, represents the opposing opinion that perhaps God himself is not perfect, as He created a flawed world, and that having the ability to change it means we should change it. The need to perfect Mother Nature is a temptation, which increases whilst technology continues to make this ability even more obtainable. By showing the viewer what the future may bring, Niccol is hinting that society is being constantly challenged whether to interfere with what has been provided for us even today, and that these early signs may lead to such manipulating in Gattaca along with its consequences. Surely we should take advantage of technological advances, but will correcting Gods mistakes really result in a more beneficial outcome? This quote is representing what is presented to the viewer directly through the films plot and character portrayal, asking the advantages of humans adopting a God-like power to be considered. But due to the blurred line between health a nd enhancement that Niccol informs us of, a constant need to perfect will always be present. So should we eliminate Gods mistakes if we are able to? Would grasping an opportunity in reach seem logical? This quote suggests the approach: Sure. Why not? Question 3: How have the film makers established the difference between the natural born Vincent and the genetically selected Anton in the sequence that shows them as children? (E.g. camera shots and angles, lighting and symbolism) To convey the difference between Vincent and his brother Anton, certain lighting and camera angles are used. For instance, Vincent is conceived at the sea at sunset; in a natural setting expressing calmness. The waves gently lap the shore, also indicating calmness and serenity, and this Vincent will be a product of nature rather than a lab. The close-up of rosary beads and a Christian cross indicate that that a God-child will be born to this couple, and that natural and religious beliefs have influenced Vincents conception. The fading light represents the beginning of a new day, but the viewer is given the impressions that Vincents birth will bring turmoil to his parents. By the doctors and Vincents parents expressions after Vincent is born, the beginning of Vincents rejection from society is immediately shown. This instant elimination from birth is emphasised when the viewer is told of Vincents life expectancy, a short 30.2 years, and his father reacts to this. Other negative data s uch as Vincents heart defect and ADHD probability is determined without delay to establish if Vincent is worthy of any acceptance. By only informing the viewer of Vincents probable deficiencies, and not the benefits, this again adds to Vincent appearing incapable and excluded ever since the moment he was born. The hospital scene uses the same low, hazy lighting as that of Vincents conception. This is not an expected light in a surgical environment, as it is gloomy, with the only light coming from the windows. This same washed out sepia tone is seen when Vincent, as a toddler, falls and his mother over-anxiously runs to him. In this scene, we are again shown Vincents incapability, appearing weak and dependent. This lighting used also portrays the characters emotions; for example, low, gloomy light indicates uncertainty and doubt when Vincent is born. The closing of the iron-bar gate at the preschool where Vincent is denied admission indicates not only Vincents rejections, but also th e rejection his parents suffer, as they are made to feel ashamed to have brought such a burden into a perfect world. The bars represent exclusion; being locked in or locked out, and Vincent and his parents are definitely being almost banned like a contagious disease from which separation is necessary. The low gloomy light throughout Vincents childhood is used to express that these are not bright, happy memories, but a different recollection. This same light is again used when Vincents parents visit the geneticist. In this scene, one specific recurring motif is referred to. This is the helix, which can be seen extensively in the structure of staircases and also the toy that Vincent is playing with. Perhaps the playing with of this toy represents the question should genetics be toyed with, and if so, should it be treated like childs play? The use of the helix motif within the staircase at the geneticists perhaps represents Gattacas society rising to new heights and understandings of s uch things as technology and genetic manipulation. When we are first introduced to Anton, a noticeable change in lighting is evident. When his father is measuring his height, Anton is bathed in a golden, glowing light; almost heavenly, as he is worthy of praise and his fathers name, whereas Vincent was not. The sets colour is richer and the positioning of the characters in the scene indicates that Vincent is left behind, and that his parents and Anton have formed their own family unit that doesnt involve Vincent. Infact, he has been pushed aside in his impurity. The viewer is shown by the measurements of the brothers that at age eight, Anton is taller, better looking and has a broader figure than Vincent, who at age ten is smaller, skinner and wears glasses. Through this comparison, we are shown which brother is stronger and ultimately, which is better. When Vincent erases is own name from beneath his brothers it is clear that Vincent is feeling the impact of this constant judgment. The fact that Vincents parent chose to have another son adds to the competitiveness of this comparison. For example, strengths and weaknesses wouldnt have been so obvious if Vincent was to have a sister. The family unit excluding Vincent that has been formed can again be referred to when Vincent is shown sitting apart from Anton and his parents eating breakfast. The viewer is shown Vincent feeding himself intellectually with a book, whereas Anton just eats; he has no excuse to fail, therefore not needing this source. The first game of chicken, when Vincent and Anton are children, we see Anton refusing to be Vincents blood brother, as he fears contamination by inferior blood. Whilst the boys swim, an aerial shot is used, showing Anton being more physically capable than his brother, strongly swimming ahead. A high camera angle is then used to show a defeated, helpless Vincent suffering in his difficulty. Genetics superiority is portrayed, and the viewer is shown Vincent in a defenceless position, again appearing the weaker. Also, when Vincent lays out his model solar system, Anton snatches Pluto (an apple), low camera angles are used when Anton is shown, giving a sense of superiority, in contrast to the high camera angles looking down on Vincent, giving the impression that that he is the impure; the son who wasnt worthy of thus fathers name. Question 4: Consider the implications of the names of the main characters: Vincent Freeman and Jerome Morrow. Vincent Freeman, being an in-valid, is not as his name implies. The name Vincent, meaning victorious and to conquer, could be an oxymoron, as is Vincents surname. Freeman, meaning one not to be forbidden by law; in other words, free to do as he pleases, is not how Vincent is seen as through societys discriminative eyes. Vincent cannot turn his dream into a reality without changing the way in which he is observed by surrounding valids (assuming the identity of a valid). Therefore he is not victorious or conquering in the beginning, but by the end of the film, he does manage to journey to Titan despite being discovered a broken ladder. So, perhaps the name Vincent Freeman is an indication of the characters journey throughout the films plot; Vincent tells us: it all began when he first saved Antons whilst playing chicken. This is the moment when Vincent discovers he has the strength and determination to excel in his hostile world, and the instant he realises that his goal is possible to be achieved, he doesnt once look back. In the end, it seems this name may well be suitable for Vincent, having the ability to fulfil his desire of journeying to space, conquering and breaking free of restraint set upon him (his family, for instance) and victoriously overruling genetic superiority with the power of the natural human spirit. For what its worth, Im here to tell you that it is possible, Vincent tells Irene. Vincent journey of aspiring and determination shows the viewer this. Jerome Morrow: The name Jerome, meaning holy, indicates Jerome as being the desires result; a valid. The meaning of Morrow is sea warrior. This relates to Jeromes swimming past and him winning silver instead of gold. The meaning sea warrior, no longer appropriate as he no longer has the physical ability to swim, could be a taunt towards Jerome, indicating that he is drowning in a sea of defeat and self-pity due to not meeting his genetic profile by coming second. Also, the fact that his suicide plan didnt go to plan indicates his failure to win. Perhaps Morrow may be an intentional rhyme with sorrow; as Vincent tells: He (Jerome) had everything except desire. Alternatively, Jeromes surname may also be related to the question do we really want tomorrow to become what we see in Gattaca? with genetics ruling over human spirit and individuality. This is perhaps a slight warning to the viewer: would this be a new hope or burden? Jerome has no intention of seeing tomorrow. Infact he has wanted to, and tried to, escape from tomorrow every since he was second best. Jerome realises that having helped Vincent pursue his goal, he no longer needed to exist in tomorrow, and decided to leave on a high note taking his failures with him, rather than falling back down into his sea to drown in sorrow. Later, Jerome asks Vincent to call him Eugene. This is extremely close to the word eugenics, which is the study and practice of selective breeding applied to humans. Also, the meaning of the name Eugene is well born, noble, which is exactly what Jerome is. Vincent tells Jerome: Jerome Morrow. Its a nice name. To which Jerome replies: Its my name. But I cant be you without it, Vincent says. So even though Jerome is giving away his first name (meaning holy) to Vincent, he still owns a sense of superiority by using the name Eugene. This allows him to still feel he has an identity, although most of it was given to Vincent. Question 5: What is the significance of being an in-valid? Imagine a society in which there were two distinct groups: valids and in-valids. Suppose you were born an in-valid; you were a victim of discrimination, or genoism. How would you truly feel? We can see that the in-valids are assigned the menial jobs- the jobs they cannot escape from due to their imperfections at birth. No matter how hard Vincent tried and longed to be accepted for his difference, being an in-valid would never allow him to be. Fate was never on Vincents side right from the start, as the constant comparison between him and Anton was the underlying discrimination that was the foundation of Vincents segregation from society. For instance, Vincent tells us: Today we have discrimination down to a science. Also, both Vincent and Irene had heart conditions, although Irene was a valid and Vincent an in-valid. Perhaps Irenes validness is an indication that genetics perfect creations dont always guarantee ideal results. The definition of in-valid, weak and sickly; one who is in capacitated by a chronic illness or disability, is strongly related to Vincents incapability to live up to the desired result: a flawless being who fits comfortably inside the mould created for them ever since their new natural conception. The definition of valid is producing the desired result, having legal force, legitimate; all of these things Vincent cannot aspire to as he simply forbidden to even try. For instance Anton tells him: I have a right to be here, you dont. To which Vincent later replies: Do you have any idea what it took to get in here? This is an indication of Vincent achievement of entering Gattaca, but there are still further stars to reach for (journeying to space). Think about the word in-valid. Why the hyphen? The hyphen turns invalid (an adjective) into in-valid (a noun). But maybe the use of the hyphen is deeper than that. Perhaps this is another indication of the isolation of in-valids. The hyphen separates the two; those apparently pure and impure. Question 6: Discuss the frequent references to swimming in the text; in what ways have the film makers given this significance? Swimming is a recurring motif in Gattaca and significant indications of this can be referred to several times throughout the film. The first time is when Vincent and Anton playing chicken, and when Anton wins, the impression is given that his determination to be the superior brother is already present. This is implying genetic superiority mainly on a physically level. The second game of chicken was when it all began; Vincent is shown as a product of a natural world, thriving in the few aspects of natural world that still exists in an artificial world. Thus this is why Vincent finds his inner strength in the ocean, something too large to be manipulated by mankinds ignorance. Also in the second game, clearer water symbolises fewer obstacles for Vincent in achieving his goal. Although we are asked to consider the survival of the fittest idea, by Vincent saving Anton, the survival of the mentally fittest is suggested. Through the games of chicken we are shown that swimming is still a familiar physical activity in the future, despite technological advances, genetic manipulation and social hierarchy that may occur. The recurring swimming theme is also an indication of a source of equality between valids and in-valids, as swimming is something that surprisingly doesnt require the correct genetic makeup or physical ability (well, perhaps it does in Jeromes case).The viewer is told that adaption is necessary in order to survive- this is referring to the unpredictability of evolution, and again the survival of the fittest is referred to. Next we discover Jerome was a champion swimmer, as he had the ideal genetic profile, but becoming paralysed meant he was no longer physically capable. When we see Jerome climbing the stairs, we could say it was almost a swimming action, with the use of his arms pulling him forward. As swimming gets one from A to B, maybe a journey is to be acknowledged. This may be Vincent realising the power of his determination and inner strength. We first see this when he rescues Anton in the first game of chicken; Vincent has the capability to win despite his in-validity. When Anton, as an adult, is shown swimming in a tank alone, the viewer is given the impressions he is racing against himself, trying the make up for his earlier losses to Vincent. Perhaps he is trying to erase the fact that an in-valid somehow was able to defy his genetic perfection- twice. In his tank, Anton is going nowhere. Here the viewer is again being shown that once a genetically manipulated human, a valid, reaches their full potential, they neither feel the need to reach higher, pushing themselves to mentally be the best, or have the ability to. On the other hand, we could argue that Antons case is different, as he believes he is the stronger brother, and that if he continues to push himself he can be better still. Another example of this is when we see Vincent intellectually feeding himself at breakfast, whereas Anton was eating food. Finally, with Vincent winning again the third game of chicken, this delivers the films main theme, telling that human spirit along with the creative chaos of individuality will overrule genetic superiority and a perfect society no matter what. Question 7: What is the significance of the recurring ocean motif in the text; in what ways have the film makers given this significance? The ocean motif in Gattaca represents the one thing that remains natural, as its vastness, power and unpredictability make it impossible to be influenced by the genetic and scientific manipulation of this artificial world. We are first given reference to the ocean at the time of Vincents conception, and this is the first connection between Vincent and nature that is represented. Also, as water can represent uncertainty perhaps this is a suggestion of the unpredictability of Vincents birth, as his parents left fate to deal him an unpredictable genetic profile. Next, the ocean is involved in Vincent and Antons first game of chicken. In this scene we are shown not only the strength of the characters, but also of the ocean. In the second game of chicken we see the oceans ability to cause danger, even leading to death. Also, Anton beneath the surface of the water perhaps indicates deeper meanings; entering the next layer of understanding. For example, after Anton is rescued by Vincent, this is when Vincent realises that although he may be an in-valid in a sea of valids, he has the determination to keep afloat and succeed in his natural setting. The love scene between Vincent and Irene also involves the ocean. This could represent a new beginning of calmness and trust, as the waves in this scene are gentle and placid, unlike those of the third game of chicken in which we again are shown links between the characters emotions and the oceans chaos, manipulation of fears, brutality and ability to take lives. When we are shown Vincent scrubbing himself on the shore at Irenes, the oceans ability to cleanse and revitalise is symbolised. This could also represent the timeline of a typical day in Vincents life; the ocean washes away the struggle of the day to prepare Vincent for another day of treading water in his vicious sea of genetic manipulation and genoism, in which he feels he is slowly drowning. Question 8: Set in the not too distant future the film has a very retro look. Why is this? The retro theme consistent throughout the film is used to subtly hint that society regrets its decision of adopting a god-like power allowing the ability to genetically manipulate, and wishes to return to the past days when the natural way was natural conception and social equality. By living in a futuristic world combined with aspects of life trying to act as those true of the past, we can see that the society of Gattaca wont accept their mistakes, believing they werent made to begin with. Genetic manipulation hasnt resulted in the outcome they expected, and they are now clinging to all that is left of the untouched past. Infact, society didnt really have an expectation of what genetically manipulating would bring; the disadvantages obviously werent considered, because if they had been, the segregation between valids and in-valids wouldnt have been so strong. Through this, the film makers are portraying the message that if we were to tamper with genetics, assuming superiority over t he environment, we would most likely regret it. The definition of retro is reminiscent of things past; not old but harking back. This relates to the society of Gattaca imitating fashions of the past whilst simultaneously incorporating modern twist. We can see this through such fashions, for instance the circa 1950s dresses worn at the piano recital, Irenes hairstyle while she is with Vincent at the nightclub and the cars of the time, especially Irenes. These imitations indicate future societys wistful longing for something (this being returning to the past) but not being able to as the line has been crossed and changes already occurred; perfection now divides humanity- if we can still call it humanity, that is. The retro look maybe also be used to allow the viewer to relate to the feelings of the characters and films plot, indicating that aspects of a Gattaca future are already present in our everyday lives today, and that if society isnt careful a similar future is perhaps as not as far away as we expect. Hence the used not-too-distant-future phrase. We must also not forget that this film was filmed in the early 1990s, and that the fashion influences of this era may have affected the films set and props. Question 9: Vincent challenges the dominant ideology of the time whereas Irene accepts it. Give evidence to support this statement. There is a clear difference in the way the characters of Vincent and Irene are portrayed. For example, Vincent tells us: I was never more certain how far away from my goal (of journeying to space) than when I was standing right beside it. Through this quote, Vincents determination to break free of the stereotypical mould that has been created for him and all in-valids is shown. A subtle hint that he rebels against societys control and manipulation is that he has lived past his life expectancy of 30.2 years. We can see that Vincent constantly questions the orderliness and precision of the world of Gattaca when he asks such things as: I dont need rescuing, but you did once. Here Vincent is fighting for an answer, perhaps not from just Anton, but from society as a whole; as if saying how do you explain that? Use your technology and genetic manipulation to figure that out. Another example of Vincents longing to escape from the judgement of belonging to the contaminated world is the comme nt he makes after his janitor boss tells him not to clean the glass too well, as Vincent might get ideas. Vincent, who has had enough of being left below with his lower class by valids on ascending escalators into Gattaca, smugly replies: Youll be able to see me when Im on the other side of it. This is yet another indication of his continuous fight in this losing battle, which does pay off for Vincent in the end. Irene on the other hand accepts the genetic hand she was dealt. Director, Niccol tells us: I think of Irene as someone who would lie down at the allotted minute as she would feel guilty for a minute longer than her profile proscribed. Vincent, who has lived past his 30.2 years, obviously doesnt feel the same way as Irene, does he? Irene first seems attracted to Vincent due to his perfect genes. But she doesnt act on her feelings for him immediately, as her obedience to societys ideology means that spontaneous relationships would be out of the question; almost impossible. Irene checks Vincents (Jeromes) genetic profile as she is interested in him, and is disappointed when she finds he is 9.3, quite a catch. As her thoughts are driven by the manipulation societys ideology has over her, she immediately presumes the curiosity wouldnt be mutual; that Vincent could do better than someone with a heart defect. We should say that Irene unwillingly accepts the ideology of society. She tells Vincent; The only trip Ill take in space is around the sun on this satellite right here. This is a sign of Irenes subtle jealously that Vincent excels in what she could only dream of obtaining- true perfection. After she asks Vincent about watching every single launch and tells him that he is the only one who watches them, she says: If youre going to pretend that you dont care, dont look up. Her saying this indicates that the small things that seem trivial to valids, as they are in reach to them, seem unavailable (like a goal they will aim to achieve in time) to in-valids, as they have been excluded from such things. Irene supports and protects Vincent, even perhaps slightly undertaking a motherly role towards him. For example, she tells him to leave work and maintains the deception with Jerome when Anton investigates. Admiring his refusal to accept his genetic fate, this allows her to challenge her own f laws, especially her weak heart. Vincent tells Irene: You are the authority on what is not possible, arent you? Theyve got you looking for any flaw that after a while, thats all you see. Perhaps Vincent is referring to the flaws she sees within herself, and how she continues to allow these deficiencies to dictate her life, forcing her to abide by societys rules. He later tells her: It is possible. Yes it is, and Vincents journey and achievement is proof that it is possible. Question 10: Do the right genes guarantee success? If not, then what does? The characters journey and experiences throughout the film show that genetic manipulation wont necessary result in perfection; infact, the viewer is shown that the diversity of untouched human nature will always be preferred over an institutional, influenced society. As producer, Stacey Sher says: In this society, there is no triumph because everything is predicted from birth, so there is always a hollowness to success. This is a world in which everyone is so obsessed with living longer that they no longer know how to be truly alive. Instead of manipulated fate, it is the strength an individual intellectually holds that truly determines the future of an individual. For instance, we can compare Anton and Vincent. Anton, the favourable brother, turns out to work for the police force; not an over-successful role, just a middle class job. In other words, Anton doesnt live up to his pre-determined future as he only becomes a detective. Not to mention, he lost two out of three games of chicken, which shows that genes are not the only thing that determines fate. Vincent on the other hand manages to achieve the impossible. Surely this should be seen as successful? Vincent reaches his goal, whereas Anton never set any in the first place; this doesnt show any willpower and aggression on Antons behalf. He was supposedly the son worthy of his fathers name, but he wasnt so worthy in the end. The next valid, Jerome, also shows genetic manipulation to be unfavourable. He lacks spirit and strength of character to succeed, as Niccol tells us when he says: He (Jerome) was the very antithesis of Vincent. Vincent inspires Jerome, who overcomes suffering under the burden of perfection, with everything except desire. If a determined fate is such a miracle, why didnt Jerome come first in his swimming race? Also, it is obvious that trying to commit suicide isnt very successful. We are told that even before his accident, Jerome was lacking in the attributes that make life most worth living by Sher. So it seems that the pressure of being expected to meet such expectations in a way impacted Jeromes life heavily. Perhaps he felt that whenever he was not perfect, when he made a mistake, that his actions were scrutinised; that the manicured world he belonged to was constantly analysing him as an experiment or the closest thing to flawlessness. In-valids wouldnt suffer under this burden o f perfection. This is therefore another indication from the film makers that human nature will always triumph over eugenics. It took the satisfaction of helping Vincent achieve his dream for Jerome to realise what really mattered in both the valid and in-valid world. I think this is why Jeromes silver medal changes to gold in the end, as this is the moment he truly succeeds, realising that genetics dont rule over everything. Irene, a valid, had her own flaws too. She not only had a heart condition, but also the ability to feel the emotion of jealousy, and she had no self-motivation. A valid, like Jerome, she also needed the inspiration of Vincents aggression and strength of mind to become inspired herself. Discrimination against in-valids is only supported by the assumption that genetic manipulation perfects without a doubt. So where is the proof that pre-determined fate is truly an advantage? In contrast, there is proof that individuality can and does survive, despite all discrimination of in-validity. This proof is Vincent, his experiences of fighting in a faultless world, and the journey he goes on to accomplish his dream.

Marlow and Kurtz in Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness Essay -- Heart D

Marlow and Kurtz in Heart of Darkness The main character in Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, isKurtz. Kurtz no longer obeys the authority of his superiors who believe that he has become too extreme and has come to employ "unsound methods" (Coppola, 1979; Longman, 2000). Marlow is sent to retrieve Kurtz from the evil influences in the Congo, and a wild journey on a tainted river ensues.   Along the way, Marlow learns about the real Kurtz and finds himself identifying with and becoming dangerously fond of the man. By the time Marlow and Kurtz meet, Marlow is already well aware of the similarities they share. Both are imperialists, and while Marlow detests the treatment of the natives by his employers (Belgian colonists), he also makes apparent his abhorrence toward the Africans. On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. Instead, he adopts their customs and becomes their leader in the never-ending quest for ivory. "He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, 'must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity' (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Marlow also admired Kurtz' resourcefulness and survival skills, especially his perseverence through jungle fever. "The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his s oul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite." (Longman, 2000, p. 2225). Before the boat can reach Kurtz's outpost, it is "attacked" by the local natives. M... ...il of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision,-he cried out twice, a cry that was no more that a breath- 'The horror! The horror!' "(Longman, 2000, p. 2240). This is what distinguishes the two men; Kurtz abandoned himself and went over the edge, but Marlow is aware of just how close he was to becoming what Kurtz was.    Works Cited and Consulted Coppola, Frances Ford. Apocalypse Now. Metro Goldwyn Mayer/ United Artists. Video: Prarmount Home Video. 1979. Conrad, Joseph.   Heart of Darkness 3rd ed.   Ed. Robert Kimbrough. New York:   Norton Critical, 1988. Longman. The Longman Anthology of British Literature, vol. B. Damrosch, D. (ed.). NY, LA: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 2000. Meyers, Jeffrey.   Joseph Conrad.   New York:   Charles Scribner's Sons, 1991. Marlow and Kurtz in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness Essay -- Heart D Marlow and Kurtz in Heart of Darkness The main character in Conrad's novel, Heart of Darkness, isKurtz. Kurtz no longer obeys the authority of his superiors who believe that he has become too extreme and has come to employ "unsound methods" (Coppola, 1979; Longman, 2000). Marlow is sent to retrieve Kurtz from the evil influences in the Congo, and a wild journey on a tainted river ensues.   Along the way, Marlow learns about the real Kurtz and finds himself identifying with and becoming dangerously fond of the man. By the time Marlow and Kurtz meet, Marlow is already well aware of the similarities they share. Both are imperialists, and while Marlow detests the treatment of the natives by his employers (Belgian colonists), he also makes apparent his abhorrence toward the Africans. On the other hand, Kurtz abandons the pretense of helping the natives achieve civilization, as displayed by the Europeans. Instead, he adopts their customs and becomes their leader in the never-ending quest for ivory. "He began with the argument that we whites, from the point of development we had arrived at, 'must necessarily appear to them [savages] in the nature of the supernatural beings- we approach them with the might as of a deity' (Longman, 2000, p. 2226). Marlow also admired Kurtz' resourcefulness and survival skills, especially his perseverence through jungle fever. "The wilderness had patted him on the head....it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his s oul to its own by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation. He was its spoiled and pampered favorite." (Longman, 2000, p. 2225). Before the boat can reach Kurtz's outpost, it is "attacked" by the local natives. M... ...il of desire, temptation, and surrender during that supreme moment of complete knowledge? He cried in a whisper at some image, at some vision,-he cried out twice, a cry that was no more that a breath- 'The horror! The horror!' "(Longman, 2000, p. 2240). This is what distinguishes the two men; Kurtz abandoned himself and went over the edge, but Marlow is aware of just how close he was to becoming what Kurtz was.    Works Cited and Consulted Coppola, Frances Ford. Apocalypse Now. Metro Goldwyn Mayer/ United Artists. Video: Prarmount Home Video. 1979. Conrad, Joseph.   Heart of Darkness 3rd ed.   Ed. Robert Kimbrough. New York:   Norton Critical, 1988. Longman. The Longman Anthology of British Literature, vol. B. Damrosch, D. (ed.). NY, LA: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 2000. Meyers, Jeffrey.   Joseph Conrad.   New York:   Charles Scribner's Sons, 1991.

The Media During the Tiananmen Square Protests Essay -- China Chinese

The Media During the Tiananmen Square Protests There will always be talk about the biases of the media and the perspective in which it takes when reporting the news; however, when the news is run by the government and the people who write the news are threatened to withdraw from their positions because they will not write propaganda, it becomes a serious issue that can lead a country into turmoil. Such was the situation in Beijing, the capital of China, in 1989, during the student and worker protests at Tiananmen Square and the ultimate killings that occurred on June 4th of that year. The role of the Chinese government in the Tiananmen Square protests went far beyond their military control and suppression; the government’s role in banning publications and firing media personnel for standing up for themselves and the protestors resulted in skewed reporting and a void in which there would be reliable information about the event, such as the number of people that died, eyewitness accounts, etc. Most of the information that resulted from state-run agencies and media were largely propagandistic and more detrimental to the government than the protestors. Foreign correspondents were mostly chased off by officials who didn’t want the students telling their story outside of a government-controlled environment; however, one newspaper from Hong Kong, Ming Pao, was able to document the event with photographs, because of their ability to blend in with the crowd. Compared to the reports from People’s Daily, the compiled photographs taken by Ming Pao jou rnalists reveal the student point of view – and the history of Chinese political activism and nationalism. The Tiananmen Square protests stemmed from policies that were initiate... ...alists see themselves as civil servants, an editor at the English-language China Daily describes the situation more bluntly: "We are like dogs on a leash. A very short leash." Works Cited: Jernow, Allison Liu. â€Å"The Tight Leash Loosens.† Columbia Journalism Review January/February 1994 Mathews, Jay. â€Å"The Myth of Tiananmen.† Columbia Journalism Review September/October 1998 Ming Pao News. June Four: A Chronicle of the Chinese Democratic Uprising. Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 1989. (source of photos) Simmie, Scott and Bob Nixon. Tiananmen Square. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1989. Thom, Cathleen. â€Å"Invisible Censorship: The Freedom of the Press and Its Responsibility† The Humanist. July/August 1999 Yu, Mok Chiu and Frank J. Harrison. Voices From Tiananmen Square. Montreal-New York: Black Rose Books, 1990. The Media During the Tiananmen Square Protests Essay -- China Chinese The Media During the Tiananmen Square Protests There will always be talk about the biases of the media and the perspective in which it takes when reporting the news; however, when the news is run by the government and the people who write the news are threatened to withdraw from their positions because they will not write propaganda, it becomes a serious issue that can lead a country into turmoil. Such was the situation in Beijing, the capital of China, in 1989, during the student and worker protests at Tiananmen Square and the ultimate killings that occurred on June 4th of that year. The role of the Chinese government in the Tiananmen Square protests went far beyond their military control and suppression; the government’s role in banning publications and firing media personnel for standing up for themselves and the protestors resulted in skewed reporting and a void in which there would be reliable information about the event, such as the number of people that died, eyewitness accounts, etc. Most of the information that resulted from state-run agencies and media were largely propagandistic and more detrimental to the government than the protestors. Foreign correspondents were mostly chased off by officials who didn’t want the students telling their story outside of a government-controlled environment; however, one newspaper from Hong Kong, Ming Pao, was able to document the event with photographs, because of their ability to blend in with the crowd. Compared to the reports from People’s Daily, the compiled photographs taken by Ming Pao jou rnalists reveal the student point of view – and the history of Chinese political activism and nationalism. The Tiananmen Square protests stemmed from policies that were initiate... ...alists see themselves as civil servants, an editor at the English-language China Daily describes the situation more bluntly: "We are like dogs on a leash. A very short leash." Works Cited: Jernow, Allison Liu. â€Å"The Tight Leash Loosens.† Columbia Journalism Review January/February 1994 Mathews, Jay. â€Å"The Myth of Tiananmen.† Columbia Journalism Review September/October 1998 Ming Pao News. June Four: A Chronicle of the Chinese Democratic Uprising. Fayetteville: The University of Arkansas Press, 1989. (source of photos) Simmie, Scott and Bob Nixon. Tiananmen Square. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1989. Thom, Cathleen. â€Å"Invisible Censorship: The Freedom of the Press and Its Responsibility† The Humanist. July/August 1999 Yu, Mok Chiu and Frank J. Harrison. Voices From Tiananmen Square. Montreal-New York: Black Rose Books, 1990.