Influence of Heavy Metal Music on Adolescence (Behavior, Identity, Mood, Regulation, Psychology)

Studies on adolescence and teenage culture are confined to understanding of teenagers’ needs. Because adolescents have similar concerns and needs and create similar peer groups, music performs the same goals for all of the groups. Being a source of peer group identity, music contrasts either with working class street subculture or with conformist culture in schools.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Influence of Heavy Metal Music on Adolescence (Behavior, Identity, Mood, Regulation, Psychology) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Accepting the potent impact of music on adolescents’ behavior, identity, and psychology leads to a deeper analysis of the influences of heavy metal music on teenagers’ development. At this point, adolescents’ preoccupation with heavy metal music is found to be harmful in terms of its influence on school achievement, social behavior, and individual differences (Harq reaves North, 1997). It has been discovered that heavy metal fans are likely to display delinquent, disrespect, and aggression (Harqreaves North, 1997). Male heavy metal admirers tend to be more amoral, manipulative, cynical, and hypersexual. Therefore, further and prolonged fascination with this genre of music contributes negatively to teenagers’ experience and increase the extent of alienation and rejection of society. Regardless of gender differences, both female and male adolescents absorbed with heavy metal music display negative character traits development. Specifically, male fans of heavy metal, therefore, disclose a higher level of reckless behavior, including sexual behavior, driving behavior, and drug use (Arnett, 1991). They are also reluctant to establish and sustain favorable family relations. Female fans of heavy metal music report reckless behavior in terms of vandalism, shoplifting, drug use, and sexual behavior. They also display lower level of self-esteem (Arnett, 1991). To understand the connection between musical preferences and adolescent behavior, specific emphasis should be placed on subliminal effects of heavy metal music bringing in backward message to the adolescents’ consciousness (Frith, 2007, p. 322). Adolescents’ being fond of heavy rock bands seek to become more self-assured with regard to dating and sexuality display. What is more threatening is that family relationships are in accord with liking or disliking heavy metal music. Within the context of music production and industry, it is not the actual music popularization that influences adolescent behavior, but the music itself with its aggressive rhythms, extremely loud volume, and electric guitars playing. The connection between behavior and physical influence of music is apparent. Music, for instance, has the ability to ‘seize’ a moment and make adolescents feel that they are living out of time, with no memory for the past and the present. So, the influence of beat, pulse and rhythm controls human mind and body.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In order to understand the psychological dimension of music impact on mood and behavior, reference to behavioral and cognitive theoretical frameworks should be made. At this point, Saarikallio (2007) argues, â€Å"†¦musical activities are indeed behavioral actions and mood regulation is realized through various behaviors like listening, playing singing or dancing† (p. 30). At the same time, music can be regarded as a platform that fosters the cognitive analysis of emotional experiences. Music is a kind of a symbolic space enabling the listeners to pass through conflicting issues and reevaluate their emotional experience. In addition, music proves to monitor three elements of emotional experience, including valence, attention and intensity, and clarity (Saarikallio, 2 007). First, valence presents music as a means of expressing adolescents’ attitude to the surrounding world. Second, the degree of attention and intensity is affected by adolescent affiliation to a particular genre of music. Finally, music sometimes allows adolescents to understand and interpret both their positive and negative experiences. With regard to the above, music performs the function of a mood regulator. In particular, listening to the music can modify situation through creating an atmosphere. Music can also deploy attention through focusing on feelings and thoughts, as well as through distracting from undesired feelings and thoughts. Mood is recognized as a source of regulating positive and negative moods (Saarikallio, 2007). In case with adolescents, heavy metal music can serve to dampen negative moods. Greater music regulation is closely associated with diversity in musical preference. Specifically, the strong intensity and high volume of heavy metal and rock mus ic reveal the emotional experience of teenagers and provides a mechanism for coping with stressful experiences that are predetermined by challenging development period. The influence of heavy metal music on adolescents can be much more threatening. In particular, Scheel (1999) has found a strong connection between music preferences and suicidal vulnerability among teenagers. Hence, it has been reported that â€Å"†¦heavy metal fans have weaker reasons for living, overall, than do nonfans and that female heavy metal fans show a more extreme negative pattern† (p. 259). However, there is also an assumption that suicidal vulnerability involves such variables as family problems and stresses that teenager experience. As a result, they tend to listen to depressive music aggravating their already problematic psychological state. In addition, there is likelihood of development of antisocial attitudes and behaviors (Hansen Hansen, 1991).Advertising We will write a custom ess ay sample on Influence of Heavy Metal Music on Adolescence (Behavior, Identity, Mood, Regulation, Psychology) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The personality characteristics, however, also matter when it comes to differences in music preferences. In addition, contrastive characteristics of heavy metal fans with nonfans also prove significant variation between these interest groups. Music preferences strongly depend on personality types. According to the studies conducted by Schwartz (2004), forceful, inhibited, sensitive adolescents with self-esteem and family rapport concern tend to listen to heavy music. The research also indicates that general percentage of adolescents listening heavy music is much higher than among those listening to other genres of music (Schwartz, 2004). Hence, admirers of heavy music have an anti-conformist way of thinking contributing to their higher self-doubts. Such teenagers are inclined to question otherà ¢â‚¬â„¢s abilities, motives, and rules; they communicate in an insensitive and blunt manner and they feel difficulties while encountering changes. With regard to these studies, heavy metal music enhances the negative experiences of adolescents, as well as aggravates their in ability to live in society with commonly shared norms and values. Listening to heavy music enables adolescents with family problems to forget about them and find comfort in emotional filling of the music. Such adolescents are usually emotional immature because of developing conflicts with parents based on their children dependence/independence. Finally, it is also suggested that heavy music reflects teenagers’ negative emotions. In particular, Schwartz (2004) states, â€Å"listening to â€Å"upsetting and protesting† and â€Å"tough and hard† music likely reflects the quality and intensity of their internal states and assuages their turbulent emotions† (p. 57). This is of increased co ncern when the performers of heavy music are almost of similar age to the audience. Detachment from society, therefore, is compensated by negatively colored music. As it has been defined earlier, group identity and status are closely associated with class distinctions shaping their personal needs, concerns, and interests. According to Firth (2007), †¦if group identity is a part of teenage culture for conventional reasons†¦then even people with an ideology of individual takes become a groups of individuals and need the symbols and friends†¦to assert themselves as a group (p. 6).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In this respect, uniting groups under the influence of common music preferences, particular under the influence of heavy metal music, contributes to shaping new identities with specific personal features. Sharing common social attitudes, their behavior becomes similar and, as result, such group can develop a new sub-culture. From a historical perspective, the development of hippie movement was the result of identity formation where distinctions between the audience and the performers were blurred (Frith, 2007, p. 18.). Because the organized community ideology was based on music along, their views on life were beyond the established norms in a majority society. As a result, groups interested in heavy metal music are inspired in violent movements against social constraints. Adolescents form the major part of those movements because of their increased psychological vulnerability contribute to their aggressive behavior, anger, and rejection of existing society that disapprove of adolesc ents’ choices. While discussing on the influence of heavy music on identity formation, specific attention should also be paid to the analysis of such issues as moral relativity, hypermasculinity, and anti-establishment values. There is a strong connection between heavy music listening and adolescent experiencing psychological pressure. In this respect, music preferences reveal the needs, conflicts, and issues that constitute teenagers’ psychological portrait, involving the aspects of dependence – independence, identity, and separateness – connection. What is more important is that music choices reveal values, norms, and images forming the adolescent’s self. Within these assumptions in mind, Schwartz (2004), â€Å"†¦adolescents preferring heave music have more sympathetic views of suicide, homicide, and Satanism†¦experience psychological turmoil†¦and exhibit more anger and emotional problems†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pp. 48-49). In addition, fa ns of heavy metal express less respect for women and are more likely to be involved in criminal activities and antisocial behavior. In addition, identity formation is also carried out through fans’ affiliation to the subculture to the degree that high perception seeking is correlated with alienation from society and family. Within the analysis of three profiles, Arnett (1993) demonstrates their high sensation qualities, involvement in subculture with regard to the extent of their alienation. In conclusion, the analysis of relations between heavy metal music listening and adolescent mood, behavior, psychological state, and regulation has revealed negative evaluations mostly. In particular, adolescent behavior becomes more aggressive and less motivated. Both boys and girls are less likely to achieve high results in school; they prefer following the subculture of alienation because of family problem and friction with their peers whose outlooks on life conform to the accepted soc ial norms. Adolescents listening to heavy music have increased suicidal vulnerability because of the lower self-esteem and inability to make sense of their life. Finally, the psychological state of teenagers is largely affected by the physical construct music rather than by the overall popularity of heavy music trends. Hence, intensified and hard, rough and loud, the music enhances the negative perceptions of the world and contributes to the establishment of anti-social outlooks. Such a situation can lead to formation of specific identity groups. References Arnett, J. (1991). Heavy Metal Music and Reckless Behavior among Adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 20(6), 573-592. Arnett, J. (1993). Three Profiles of Heavy Metal Fans: A Taste for Sensation and a Subculture of Alienation. Qualitative Sociology, 16(4), 423. Frith, S. (2007). Taking Popular Music Seriously: Selected Essays. US: Ashgate Publishing. Hansen, C. H., Hansen, R. D. (1991). Constructing Personality and Soc ial Reality Through Music: Individual Differences among Fans of Punk and Heavy Metal Music. Journal of Broadcasting Electronic Media. 35(3), 335-350. Harqreaves, D., North, A. (1997). The Social Psychology of Music. US: Oxford University Press. Saarikallio, S. (2007). Music as Mood Regulation in Adolescence. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Jyvaskyla Studies in Humanities. Scheel, K. S. (1999). Heavy Metal Music and Adolescent Suicidality: An Empirical Investigation. Adolescence, 34(134), 253. Schwartz, K. (2004). Music Preferences, Personality Style, and Developmental Issues of Adolescents. Journal of Youth Ministry, 3(1), 47-64. 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Precious Bodily fluids essays

Precious Bodily fluids essays As a filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick was somewhat of a perfectionist who went to obsessive lengths to fulfill his artistic vision. Known for doing numerous takes of the same scene, Kubrick was committed to perfecting the image in each frame and successfully conveying its meaning. With his 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying, and Love the Bomb, Kubrick creates a satiric bombshell of nuclear war and social commentary. This film has an abundance of important scenes that convey the films overall theme through comedic dialogue and textured imagery, but one scene does a particularly exceptional job. A scene in which a ranting General Ripper unveils his bizarre motivation for the nuclear assault on Russia to the shocked Group Captain Mandrake, while fondling a smoking cigar in his mouth. I can no longer sit back and allow communist infiltration, communist indoctrination, communist subversion, and the international communist conspiracy to sap and poison all of our precious bodily fluids. The words of a nutty General Ripper, spoken maniacally by Sterling Hayden, give the viewer a better idea of what the film is all about. The dialogue is simply an exaggeration, and in many cases not an exaggeration, of the haunting thoughts plaguing the minds of Cold War America. Throughout the scene, Group Captain Mandrake, a British liaison played wonderfully by the flawless Peter Sellers, listens to Rippers ranting and tries to calm the general with little success. The dialogue alone makes the films satirical intentions clear and Kubricks simple staging and suddel imagery only deepens the connotation. Much of General Rippers insanity is shown through a close shot of his face from below. In the image we see only Rippers twisted face clenching a cig ...

Easy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Easy - Assignment Example Pizza Hut also offers nutritious menu like their Caesar Salad which has lettuce and herbed croutons. And I discovered that the ambiance depends upon the preference of the customers; if he wanted warm, then Pizza Hut is the best choice and if he wanted cool and light, then its Burger King. And I could say that indeed the crew in Pizza Hut is the best, because they even serve you in your table, unlike the self-service orientation of Burger King. With respect to price, indeed Pizza Hut is pricy. If I don’t want to feel guilty to myself, I prefer either Burger King’s Veggie Burger or Big Fish, which are nourishing. I really feel good in the Burger King’s Whopper and paired with their Oreo Sundae Shake-Chocolate. For fun with friends, I prefer Pizza Hut’s pizzas and drinks. I agree with the person #1 that McDonalds open early to cater breakfast. I would like to suggest that fast food chains should start offering nutritious menus like fish, vegetables and fruits. In person #2, I wonder if the vegetables and fruits of their salads and shakes in McDonalds are loaded with chemicals from pesticides and fertilizers. McDonalds can do better if they use organic fertilizer for their lettuce, tomatoes and other fruits. In person #3, I agree with his idea of McDonald’s ads promotion. I agree also with what he said that McDonalds and Burger King had the same pricing. However, I say, McDonalds has nutritious burgers too, like their

Router and IP Addresses Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Router and IP Addresses - Assignment Example (Ramasamy 2007). An interface is a physical connector on the router (usually connected to multiple networks) used for receiving and forwarding packets (Ramasamy 2007). Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and Token Ring to Serial and ISDN ports are some examples of interfaces in a router. Each interface has its own IP address different from the other interfaces in the same router. Summation of the number of all the IP addresses of the interfaces connected to the router gives the number of IP addresses a router has. Link-state and distance-vector routing algorithms Routing algorithms, also known as routing protocols are formulas used by routers in order to determine the best and appropriate path onto which packet are to be forwarded. Besides determining the appropriate path, routing protocols also specifies how changes in the network are reported by the router to other routers in the network in addition to information sharing among the routers. Generally routing protocols are used to dynamically communicate information about all the network paths travelled in order to reach a destination. It then uses the information to select the best path to reach a destination in the network. ... It requires minimal configuration and low memory overhead. On the other hand, the link state algorithm determines best routing path by calculating the state of each link in a path and selects the path that has the lowest total metric to reach destination. It requires a higher memory footprint. Link state algorithm knows whether a link is up or down, besides the speed of the link. This enables it to accurately calculate the cost to reach a specified destination within a network. It uses speed of the links in the path as the first priority over distance as compared to distance vector algorithm. Link state algorithm would choose to travel a path with more hops but of high speed than a few hops of low speed in order to reach its destination over a network unlike the distance vector algorithm which chooses the shortest possible distance to reach a destination irrespective of the speed of the links in the paths chosen. For this reason, a link state routing algorithm is much faster than the distance vector algorithm if all the links in the network have the same speed. Distance vector algorithm would be preferable in a case where the links in the network has different speed since it employs a more direct route with fewer hops unlike the link state algorithm. Ping Command Type in the command prompt window â€Å"ping www.google.com† My IP address 192.168.0.103 Google IP address 74.125.236.178 Approximate round trip time in milliseconds Minimum=446ms Maximum=664 ms Average=536ms Trace route (tracert) Command The average round trip delay= 461.0 ms. Maximum=429 ms. Minimum=418ms .It is different from that of ping (536ms) Hops=22, Routers= 22-2(source

Close Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Close Analysis - Assignment Example es that Sir Doyle, captures in his text and uses to reveal some of the hidden facts about the lives of the characters in a way that teaches his audiences real life lessons relevant to other characters in the story and readers today. In â€Å"The Adventure of the Speckled Band† the theme of truth has appeared severally with characters showing unique reactions after learning of the real facts about their lives. Arthur Conan Doyle explains how Mrs. Helen Stone’s reacts to being told the truth of how her twin sister died. Even though we are not directly told how she learned of it, Mrs. Helen responds in a way that depicts that she hates her stepfather for hiding the truth from her. However, she trusted that she would be in London as Sherlock Holmes continues with his investigations. Moreover, when Mrs. Helen is given the information that Sherlock and Watson came to meet her stepfather, she finds out that she was followed by her father to London. This fact made Helen suspicious of her stepfather and lost confidence in him. In real life, this happens such that family members hide information from each other, occurrences that creates enmity between them once the truth comes out. The relationship between Mrs. Helen and her stepfather was undermined after Helen discovered the truth about him. Such instances have been frequent in the modern day leading to family breaking-ups. In a more spectacular way, the characters surrounding Mrs. Hellen also emphasize on the theme of truth as they hid the real cause of death of her twin sister. Though she was relieved that she came to know the truth about her sister’s death, she felt bitter that she was given the wrong information. She also came to known that the information that her stepfather used a snake to murder her sister was ironical. It made her sad especially that her stepfather killed her. â€Å"Though, of course, she is still sad to learn how her sister has been murdered by their stepfather† this text shows the reaction

The Philosophy Of Utilitarianism Philosophy Essay

The Philosophy Of Utilitarianism Philosophy Essay This paper will critically analyze Utilitarianism. The philosophy of Utilitarianism focuses on the overall outcome or result of an action. It is believed that this will manifest a greater happiness and moral benefit for society. However, Utilitarianism denies credibility to the intent behind the action but rather the end result or overall outcome. This principle was argued by philosopher John Stuart Mill. In direct opposition to the principles of Utilitarianism, lies the philosopher Immanuel Kant. Kant argues that there must be honorable intentions within an individual to manifest a greater outcome or action within society. I intend to argue that Utilitarianism is the most beneficial and influential of the two perspectives. To summarize Immanuel Kants perspective, he argues that the individual plays a highly important role in the overall happiness or virtue of society. Yet in order to reach the ultimate result or outcome, there are certain characteristics necessary to accomplish this task. In The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative, Kant refers to the materialistic pleasures of society as gifts of fortune. He stresses the importance of good will as a means to balance out our societal mistakes or immorality. Kant states that good will, corrects the influence of these on the mind and, in so doing, also corrects the whole principle of action and brings it into conformity with universal ends, (Kant, Immanuel. The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative. The Good Will. (1998). 591). He further stresses that duty plays a role in furthering the overall outcome of an action. However, the morality behind an action is the manifestation of the initial principle behind the action. He states, the moral worth o f an action does not lie in the effect expected from it and so too does not lie in any principle of action that needs to borrow its motive from the expected effect (Kant, Immanuel. The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative. The Good Will. (1998). 592). To summarize John Stuart Mills Utilitarian perspective, he argues that there is no validity or pertinence in the inclusion of intent. The most important component is the overall outcome. To obtain true happiness or virtue, there must exist a collective amount of virtuous acts. This would benefit society as a whole. In Utilitarianism, Mill argues that honorable or desirable intentions have little bearing or influence on the ultimate action. There are instances when an individual knows that the ultimate outcome will be significant and morally beneficial, but still choose the opposite path. Kant states that men, pursue sensual indulgences to the injury of health, though perfectly aware that health is the greater good (Mill, John S. Utilitarianism Chapter 2. What Utilitarianism Is. (1863). 602). He further stresses what society might experience if the Greatest happiness Principle was in effect. Mill exclaims that this is an existence exempt as far as possible from pain, and as rich as po ssible in enjoyments, both in point of quantity and quality, (Mill, John S. Utilitarianism Chapter 2. What Utilitarianism Is. (1863). 603). Mill went on to argue that in order to have a primary moral principle, there should also be an important set of principles to use it towards. Mill states, Whatever we adopt as the fundamental principle of morality, we require subordinate principles to apply it by, (Mill, John S. Utilitarianism Chapter 2. What Utilitarianism Is. (1863). 609). He concludes his argument by acknowledging that it is difficult to prove morality, and rejects Kants position that morality entirely rests with intention. Mill states, to consider the rules of morality as improvable is one thing; to pass over the intermediate generalizations entirely, and endeavor to test each individual action directly by the first principle is another, (Mill, John S. Utilitarianism Chapter 2. What Utilitarianism Is. (1863). 609). In the article called, The Ends of the Means? Kantian Ethics Vs. Utilitarianism, Erin Terrall summarizes both perspectives. Terrall makes a valuable point when stating, A Utilitarian aspect could be more appropriate for one situation; while a Kantian perspective might be better for another. If one keeps a working knowledge of both philosophies, one can look at life with a broader view, and not get too firmly entrenched in one set of beliefs, (Terrall, Erin. The Ends of the Means? Kantian Ethics Vs. Utilitarianism. (2007). It is evident that both perspectives are highly influential. There are those that spend their lives trying to improve their moral character, in order to insure a greater amount of happiness for themselves and others. Then there are those that ultimately focus on making the most profound impact possible, to pacify the need of a virtuous society. However, when both are in balance, the results can be profound for society as a whole. For example, despite the infestation of racism in the United States of America during the 1950s and 60s, Martin Luther King intended to change the tide of erroneous beliefs. He intended to and set out to educate all men on equality. Very few people could deny that he was a man driven by honorable characteristics and good will. He was compelled by his duty to mankind. His efforts to unite this nation ultimately served a greater purpose for all mankind. His outcome was irrefutably in harmony with his intent. It would be absurd to deny his influence on the virtue of society. His individual efforts made ripples in the pond of society and realigned the moral compass. So it is indeed possible that the two perspectives can be profound when they coincide. Although they are both pertinent to the overall virtue of society, I would have to give greater credibility to Utilitarianism. If Martin Luther King Jr. lacked the courage to take a stand for what was right, would African Americans have been given the right to vote in 1965? As painful as it is to say, I highly doubt it. If Martin Luther King Jr. was merely a man of many honorable intentions, would we give him a national holiday? More than likely, not. There were a multitude of people that had the most honorable of intentions, but none as great of an impact as he. This is not to discredit those who also fought for equal rights. However, no one can deny that Martin Luther King Jr. was in the forefront of this battle. The manifestation of this outcome evolved into a greater respect and understanding of all mankind, regardless of the color of their skin. This propelled and influenced even more significant outcomes of equality and civil rights in the United States. Our virtue is still a w ork in progress, but it is indeed progressing. The outcome will ultimately influence a greater degree of intent and actions. If John Stuart Mills Utilitarian perspective is as pertinent as I and he argues that it is, then idealistically, we are well on our way to living a life that is overflowing with virtue and widespread happiness. Bibliography Page Kant, Immanuel. . The Good Will and the Categorical Imperative. The Good Will. (1998). In Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. Fourteenth Edition, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA, 2011, pp. 591-592. Mill, John S. Utilitarianism Chapter 2. What Utilitarianism Is. (1863). In Reason and Responsibility: Readings in Some Basic Problems of Philosophy. Fourteenth Edition, Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA, 2011, pp. 602-609. Terrall, Erin. The Ends of the Means? Kantian Ethics Vs. Utilitarianism. YahooVoices.com. YahooVoices.com., 11 May. 2007. Web. 14 April 2013. Retrieved online: http://voices.yahoo.com/the-ends-means-kantian-ethics-vs-utilitarianism-337424.html

Stowaways :: essays research papers fc

Stowaways Stowaways have been a problem to shipowners for about as long as there have been ships in the sea. In the early days of sailing ships and looser maritime legislation, this was a relatively minor problem. This probably had to due with the fact that the ships were smaller in comparison to today's standards, and were comparatively heavily crewed. Thus the chances for a stowaway to get on board and go undiscovered for any length of time were fairly small. Also in that age, the concept of "human rights" was not what it is today, and any stowaways that were found often became involuntary members of the crew. There was, therefore, little incentive to become an unpaying passenger on a merchant ship. Today, however, ships have become ever larger, the maritime world has become increasingly regulated, and the issue of stowaways has become a major problem. There are really several reasons why stowaways have become more of a problem. The real driving factor is really an economic one (Wiener). With all of the political and economic strife in the world today, there is a huge population of people who are just tired of being on the rock bottom of the economic ladder, and are desperate for a better life in a different place. This is really the basic reason why someone would want to spend a week or so crammed into a stuffy container or other similarly uncomfortable accommodations in order to get from wherever they are to somewhere else. It isn't because they just didn't have the money for a plane ticket, but it is the fact that they are being lured by the prospect of a better life. They are willing to leave their homelands and endure uncertain conditions in order to get there. There is, of course, the possibility of applying to another country, such as the United States or any other world economic superpower, for admission as an immigrant. This is a very long and difficult process, and the likelihood of actually getting in is slim. Even if it was possible, few third world citizens can actually afford transportation overseas, let alone find and afford housing, meals, and so forth, once they get there. The fact of the matter is that may desperately poor people who would like to immigrate to another country simply lack the resources to make the trip legally. Therefore, alternative measures, such as stealing rides on merchant ships, become very attractive (Wiener). Another component is the ever increasing size of today's merchant ships, coupled with the gradual decrease in the size of the crews sailing in them.

Hamlet Essay

Hamlet represents many things: tragic hero, over-thinking educated man, and poor friend. He is also a revolutionary, a philosopher, and a dreamer, and reconciling these good qualities with the bad proves as maddening for the audience as it does to Hamlet himself. However, what is often lost in the shuffle of Christian theologies in the play is the fact that nihilism as a persistent force, guiding Hamlet’s actions (or inaction, as the case may be) and serving as the catalyst for tragedy. Nihilism serves in the play as a kind of spiritual nether region into which men like Hamlet can find themselves being pulled into. It represents something that, to Hamlet and those like him, comes across as something off a salvation: it represents an opportunity to free one’s self from the need to act, and instead welcomes someone to become completely absorbed in the world of contemplation. This seems ideal for Hamlet the student, but when he is asked to take action by his spectral father, he is torn between his true nature and that which others expect of him. Unable to believe in himself, Hamlet becomes unable to believe in anything at all, which forms the crux of the play’s tragic moral dilemma. Whether Hamlet was intended to be a nihilist or the work nihilistic in nature is a question ripe for debate. According to Donald Wehrs, Placing the threat of nihilism at the heart of tragedy, Shakespeare seems to anticipate, if not inaugurate, Romantic and Modernist vocations for literature—offering literature as the site where significance after the debunking of myth and metaphysics may be reclaimed (68).† According to such a reading, one of the purposes in the narrative of Hamlet is the debunking of mythology. This would reconcile some of the odder features of the play—for instance, the very non-Catholic ghost of King Hamlet (himself seemingly a remnant from the notions of purgatory) juxtaposed with very Catholic concerns of whether Claudius will ascend to heaven or descend to hell based on the exact moment that he is killed: he can’t be killed, according to Hamlet, when he is â€Å"fit and season’d for his passage. However, Wehrs points out that nihilism is the threat, and not the goal: Hamlet’s tale is not nihilistic simply for the sake of riveting storytelling, but because it reveals that when lives unravel (as they do in all tragedies), a belief in nothingness effectively leaves nothing behind; no substance lurking behind the shroud of life. Why, then, the debunking? Why bother lampooning the absurdity of certain metaphysical notions/superstitions while still adhering to the Christian belief structure? The answer is as simple as it is striking: through the story of Hamlet, Shakespeare attempts to create a system of morality that is independent of religion of spiritual affiliation. After all, Hamlet is shown as someone torn between moralities, weighing the social responsibility of honoring his father’s request for revenge with the spiritual responsibility of avoiding bloodshed and murder. He is a man torn apart by his multitude of beliefs, not his lack of beliefs†¦the famous â€Å"to be or not to be† speech represents a descent into nihilism, but it is an abyss that he was driven into by trying to follow the often-arbitrary dictates of what is right and what is wrong. It is no coincidence that the best intentions of Hamlet consign many more souls to death than the deliberate machinations of Claudius. According Tzachi Zamir, some of Shakespeare’s tragic characters (such as Macbeth) are able to resolve nihilistic navel-gazing by virtue of action. Hamlet, on the other hand, is â€Å"more interested in escaping† (537) the physicality of the world: his philosophical nature lends itself more readily to the nihilism that he stumbles into. This is found in the â€Å"to be or not to be† speech, as Hamlet notes â€Å"With this regard their currents turn awry / And lose the name of action. † It is interesting to note that the nihilistic Hamlet causes more death and destruction than other tragic characters who have a spiritual belief structure in place: Claudius, as written above, is a cold-blooded murderer, but also a repentant man who does not let his life be consumed by forces beyond his control. Macbeth readily admits that the violent murder that begins his own tragic downfall will send him to hell, but he cannot help himself. In this spectrum of morality, Shakespeare seems to be implying that good actions can be tainted (following Aristotle’s Poetics, his tragedies almost always feature glorious characters being brought low) and bad actions can be redeemed (the counterpoint of Shakespeare’s tragedies are, of course, the comedies, in which everyone is a case of mistaken identity or two away from true love and happy marriage). Hamlet seems to perceive this on some level: â€Å"â€Å"I must be cruel, only to be kind. † The worst sin, then, becomes inaction: Hamlet’s inaction is a result of his inability to believe in anything, and it seems to clog up the very gears of Hamlet’s world: it is unsurprising, then, that the entirety of that world grinds to a halt from this disruption. Worse still, he tethers the inaction to his ability to reason, when in truth, it is only reasoning that can save one from nihilism. As Grace Matthews points out, â€Å"Hamlet, a religious young man, vacillates between faith and atheism, he becomes vulnerable to the deception that evil offers us†¦ it is only by resisting succumbing to nihilism through thinking that we can protect our spirituality and live meaningfully as a result. † Hamlet’s sin is not thinking; Hamlet’s sin is overthinking. Perhaps the most strident voice in declaring that Hamlet is a nihilist play is that of Harold Bloom. According to him, â€Å"Shakespeare invented what Nietzsche, and Dostoevsky, and others afterwards started to call nihilism. It’s a pure Shakespearean invention. † He links this rather explicitly with the character of Hamlet himself: â€Å"I’m not sure that until you have the representation you call Hamlet, that you have anywhere†¦someone who changes every time he or she speaks, and who does it by this weird thing of overhearing oneself, which I can’t find before Shakespeare.† For Bloom, the notion of Hamlet being nihilistic lies in his personal inability to create an identity for himself: his mind is tugged by reason in one direction, by honor in another direction, and by loyalty in yet another direction. As cliche as it may sound, Hamlet is unable to believe in anything else because he is unable to believe in himself. Aside from the obviously bloody consequences, how does this further the notion that Shakespeare intended this to be a negative thing—a nihilism to be avoided at all costs, instead of an existential safety blanket for individuals to hide themselves in? The answer to this is the fact that Hamlet is portrayed as less than a person throughout the entirety of the play. In point of fact, his spectral father actually displays much more personality and substance than his son does. Hamlet’s identity is in reflection: he can be a jocular young man with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, an educated conspirator with Horatio and an angered son with his mother. Without them, though, Hamlet is unable to be anyone at all. Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a play, and his Hamlet as a character, will remain the center of debate for centuries more to come. However, it is important that the discussions of fate and philosophy—the very kind that Hamlet would have delighted in at Wittenberg—do not overshadow the small things that comprise his tragedy. Shakespeare dangles both Lutheran and Catholic theology in front of both Hamlet and the viewer, but does not advocate one over the other. Rather, both serve as a warning for the only real spiritual evil: the inaction of nihilism. Ironically, it is only through the use of reasoning that one can overcome the temptation of nihilism†¦the temptation of surrendering all responsibility and simply succumbing to the ebb and flow of the tides of the world. However, through Hamlet we see that an overabundance of reasoning can actually cause this effect: if one overlaps spirituality and secular education, then everything is thrown into disarray, and the moral compass is not simply broken†¦one’s entire sense of a true moral north is thrown right out of the window. In its place is a path that can lead only to heartbreak, bloodshed, and chaos.

Ibn Khaldun Achievements and Profile

Ibn Khaldun Achievements and Profile Ibn Khaldun is an important figure in Medieval History. Key Facts Other Names: Ibn Khaldun was also known as Abu Zayd Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun. Notable Achievements: Ibn Khaldun was noted for developing one of the earliest nonreligious philosophies of history. He is generally considered the greatest Arab historian as well as the father of sociology and the science of history. Occupations: PhilosopherWriter HistorianDiplomatTeacher Places of Residence and Influence: AfricaIberia Important Dates Born: May 27, 1332Died: March 17, 1406 (some references have 1395) Quotation Attributed to Ibn Khaldun He who finds a new path is a pathfinder, even if the trail has to be found again by others; and he who walks far ahead of his contemporaries is a leader, even though centuries pass before he is recognized as such. About Ibn Khaldun Abu Zayd Abd al-Rahman ibn Khaldun  came from an illustrious family and enjoyed an excellent education in his youth. Both his parents died when the Black Death struck Tunis in 1349. At the age of 20, he was given a post at the court of Tunis and later became secretary to the sultan of Morocco in Fez. In the late 1350s, he was imprisoned for two years for suspicion of participating in a rebellion. After being released and promoted by a new ruler, he again fell out of favor, and he decided to go to Granada. Ibn Khaldun had served the Muslim ruler of Granada in Fez, and Granadas prime minister, Ibn al-Khatib, was a renowned writer and a good friend to Ibn Khaldun. A year later he was sent to Seville to conclude a peace treaty with King Pedro I of Castile, who treated him with great generosity. However, intrigue raised its ugly head and rumors were spread of his disloyalty, adversely affecting his friendship with Ibn al-Khatib. He returned to Africa, where he changed employers with unfortunate frequency and served in a variety of administrative posts. In 1375, Ibn Khaldun sought refuge from the tumultuous political sphere with the tribe of Awlad Arif. They lodged him and his family in a castle in Algeria, where he spent four years writing the  Muqaddimah.   Illness drew him back to Tunis, where he continued his writing until difficulties with the current ruler prompted him to leave once more. He moved to Egypt and eventually took a teaching post at the Quamhiyyah college in Cairo, where he later became chief judge of the Maliki rite, one of the four recognized rites of Sunnite Islam. He took his duties as judge very seriously perhaps too seriously for most of the tolerant Egyptians, and his term did not last long. During his time in Egypt, Ibn Khaldun was able to make a pilgrimage to Mecca and visit Damascus and Palestine. Except for one incident in which he was forced to participate in a palace revolt, his life there was relatively peaceful- until Timur invaded Syria. The new sultan of Egypt, Faraj, went out to meet Timur and his victorious forces, and Ibn Khaldun was among the notables he took with him. When the Mamluk army returned to Egypt, they left Ibn Khaldun in besieged Damascus. The city fell into great peril, and the city leaders began negotiations with Timur, who asked to meet Ibn Khaldun. The illustrious scholar was lowered over the city wall by ropes in order to join the conqueror. Ibn Khaldun spent nearly two months in the company of Timur, who treated him with respect. The scholar used his years of accumulated knowledge and wisdom to charm the ferocious conqueror, and when Timur asked for a description of North Africa, Ibn Khaldun gave him a complete written report. He witnessed the sack of Damascus and the burning of the great mosque, but he was able to secure safe passage from the decimated city for himself and other Egyptian civilians. On his way home from Damascus, laden with gifts from Timur, Ibn Khaldun was robbed and stripped by a band of Bedouin. With the greatest of difficulty, he made his way to the coast, where a ship belonging to the Sultan of Rum, carrying an ambassador to the sultan of Egypt, took him to Gaza. Thus he established contact with the rising Ottoman Empire. The rest of Ibn Khalduns journey and, indeed, the rest of his life was relatively uneventful. He died in 1406 and was buried in the cemetery outside one of Cairos main gates. Ibn Khalduns Writings Ibn Khalduns most significant work is the Muqaddimah. In this introduction to history, he discussed historical methods and provided the necessary criteria for distinguishing historical truth from error. The Muqaddimah is considered one of the most phenomenal works on the philosophy of history ever written. Ibn Khaldun also wrote a definitive history of Muslim North Africa, as well as an account of his eventful life in an autobiography entitled Al-tarif bi Ibn Khaldun. More Ibn Khaldun Resources Biographies Ibn Khaldun His Life and Work by M. A. EnanIbn Khaldun: Historian, Sociologist Philosopher by Nathaniel Schmidt Philosophical and Sociological Works Ibn Khaldun: An Essay in Reinterpretation (Arabic Thought and Culture) by Aziz Al-AzmehIbn Khaldun and Islamic Ideology (International Studies in Sociology and Social Anthropology) edited by B. LawrenceSociety, State, and Urbanism: Ibn Khalduns Sociological Thought by Fuad BaaliSocial Institutions: Ibn Khalduns Social Thought by Fuad BaaliIbn Khalduns Philosophy of History - A Study in the Philosophic Foundation of the Science of Culture by Muhsin Mahdi Works by Ibn Khaldun Muqaddimah by Ibn Khaldun; translated by Franz Rosenthal; edited by N. J. DowoodAn Arab Philosophy of History: Selections from the Prolegomena of Ibn Khaldun of Tunis (1332-1406) by Ibn Khaldun; translated by Charles Philip Issawi

Different Elements of Governance Essays

Different Elements of Governance Essays Different Elements of Governance Essay Different Elements of Governance Essay Why are there arrows flowing in both directions between the different elements of governance depicted in exhibit 3-2? The arrows represent the flow of information throughout the governance structure. There are arrows because they show the direction of the communication that there has to be between the elements of governance. What is the difference between the two areas of governance depicted in exhibit 3-3? The strategic direction is when the board is responsible for providing strategic direction and guidance relative to the establishment of key business objectives, consistent with the organizations business model and aligned with stakeholder priorities. Governance oversight focuses on the boards role in managing and monitoring the organizations operation. The difference is that strategic direction is when the board gets involved and provides guidance in order to achieve the organizations objectives, and governance oversight is when the board is actually working on managing and monitoring the organization and what they are doing to achieve the objectives. What are the three different types of stakeholders that the road must understand? Give examples of each type. Directly involved, such as customers and employees, interested such as vendors and shareholders and influence such as regulatory agencies and financial Institutions Directly Involved employees, customers, vendors. Interested employees, customers, vendors, shareholders/limestone, regulatory agencies and financial Institutions Influence shareholders/limestone, regulatory agencies and financial Institutions. What types of outcomes might a board need to insider to understand stakeholders expectations? Financial, Compliance, Operations, Strategic. PEPS Compliance Litigation, code of conduct violations Operations achievement of objectives, efficient use of assets. Strategic reputation, corporate sustainability. What role does the Internal audit function play In governance? The Internal audit activity must assess and make appropriate recommendations for Improving the governance process. The Internal audit should help and gulled the organization to achieve Its goals related to governance. It should help Improve the ethics and values of the organizations, make sure there Is an outstanding performance of management and communicate with the necessary Individuals to Improve the organizations governance process. Different Elements of Governance By sessions influence such as regulatory agencies and financial institutions Directly involved Interested employees, customers, vendors, shareholders/investors, regulatory agencies and financial institutions Influence shareholders/investors, regulatory agencies and financial institutions. What types of outcomes might a board need to Financial PEPS What role does the internal audit function play in governance? The internal audit activity must assess and make appropriate recommendations for improving the governance process. The internal audit should help and guide the organization to achieve its goals related to governance. It should help improve the ethics and values of the organizations, make sure there is an outstanding performance of management and communicate with the necessary individuals to improve the organizations

New Driving Laws in Queensland, Australia Essay

New Driving Laws in Queensland, Australia - Essay Example The essay "New Driving Laws in Queensland, Australia" talks about the relevant legislations impacting the new driving laws in Queensland, Australia, and the major provisions of the various Acts and their relevance to the issue. Drivers in Australia require a valid driver's license. Licenses from other countries may be accepted for limited stays in Australia; details vary by State. Typically, foreign licenses in English are considered valid for driving in Australia for visitors with visitor's visas. In other cases, an International Driving Permit is required, issued in your home country before arrival in Australia. Also, you are permitted to drive an American (left-hand drive) car in Australia, providing that you have the license to do so. Use of seat belts is compulsory in Australia for drivers and all vehicle passengers, and infants must be secured with approved safety capsules and harnesses. Seatbelt laws are strictly enforced, and the onus is on the driver to ensure all passengers are buckled in. Penalties apply to the driver of the vehicle and include demerit points, license suspension, and heavy fines. The road rules are strictly enforced in Australia, especially speed limits. Speed limits vary depending on road conditions, area and State. Speed limits change at regular intervals so keep an eye out for them. The road rules are strictly enforced in Australia, especially speed limits. Speed limits vary depending on road conditions, area and State. Speed limits change at regular intervals.

The Impact of Terrorism on Liberty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The Impact of Terrorism on Liberty - Essay Example Yet, to be effective in the fight against terrorism, the terrorist must be well defined and the target needs to be focused. Terrorism is by its nature an act that feeds on the public's fear of violence more than it relies on the violence itself. To confront these fears we react in numerous ways to diminish the possibility of a senseless and unwarranted attack on our population. In a free society, we leave ourselves open to be penetrated and we remain perpetually at risk. Our freedom of movement, loose borders, and laws guaranteeing individual liberty place a heavy burden on the organizations the public expects to protect them from a surprise attack. To reduce the terrorist threat, it becomes necessary to erode the liberties that the same organizations are sworn to protect. This dilemma manifests itself in a debate over this tradeoff as liberty is sacrificed for security. At what point does the security become more troublesome than the fear Is the security worth the cost To sufficiently analyze the debate that surrounds this question, it is first necessary to frame the question with a well-focused definit ion of terrorism. The objectives of the terrorist must be considered as well as their motivation. ... The importance of the debate can not be overstated. The founding principles that reside in the Constitution of the United States are at stake. Freedom of speech, association, and movement become at risk as laws are enacted which silently chill the document's intentions. This slow creep into heightened security does not repeal, but rather steps on and renders meaningless the 4th Amendment. The debate is a high stakes debate and one we can not afford to get wrong. It is generally accepted that the public wants universal freedom as guaranteed by the Constitution. It is also understood that the public requires security and is willing to compromise their liberty when necessary in extreme and demanding circumstances. Determining the point that additional security is no longer worth the loss of liberty is an arduous task that is of great concern to everyone. Getting it wrong could mean the meaningless and unnecessary loss of lives or liberty. The necessary information to analyze the debate that surrounds this issue comes from a consensus viewpoint of government and international agencies as it pertains to the definition of terrorism. A recent study from the University of Chicago and other relevant academic works will be used to define the motivation of terrorism. Laws such as the Patriot Act and Homeland Security Act will be analyzed to grasp their reach. The viewpoints of the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, and State Department will be considered as well as credible opposing viewpoints. A realistic assessment that the increase in security has had on the daily lives of Americans will be considered as well as the implications it has on the future. An attempt will be made to separate the reality from the political rhetoric as the question is