The Evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano Art free essay sample

A beautiful dark-skinned brunette stands before you. Her long, flowing hair beautifully frames her sweet face and demure smile. Yards of richly colored clothing adorn her tall, slender frame. Rays of sunlight appear from behind, emphasizing pure beauty. Her hands are joined together and she holds them at her chest in worship or, perhaps, in gratitude. Who is she, or rather, who do you see? Practicing Catholics all over Central and South America see a venerated patron saint. In Mexico, she is immediately recognizable as symbolic mother of a nation, ‘nuestra madre. New generations of mestizos see a symbol of all that is woman, as real and complex as their mothers, sisters, daughters, and lovers. Who you see depends on who you are, but all identify her as the Virgin of Guadalupe, perhaps the most recognizable icon to emerge out of post-conquest Americas. La Virgen of Guadalupe has evolved throughout history as a cross-cultural and multi-generational icon of virginity, femininity, purity, and maternal love. We will write a custom essay sample on The Evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Her presence can be seen everywhere, on clothing, jewelry, car windows, and even on coffins. This essay charts the evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano art, from religious icon to feminist mascot; I examine the forms in which contemporary Mexican-American artists have adopted this image, in the tradition of the Chicano art movement, to galvanize communities toward a common social or political cause, and, as Chicana artists will co-opt her image as a vehicle to assert gender issues within the larger agenda, I will argue that the opposition to such efforts reveals a double-standard of allegiance in stark contrast to the goals of the Chicano movement. To understand how La Virgen has evolved outside of her intended religious context, her genesis must first be examined. Origin stories vary but, according to tradition, on Dec 9, 1531, Juan Diego first saw La Virgen on top of Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She instructed him to have the Bishop build a church on the site. Little Juan Diego immediately found the Bishop and relayed the message, but was dismissed as a storyteller. Three days later, on Juan Diego’s walk to church, la Virgen again reappeared. This time, she told Juan Diego to go the hilltop and pick roses, pack them in his tilma, and take them to the bishop to prove he saw her and to convince the bishop to build a church there. When he presented them to the bishop as instructed, he dropped his cloak with the roses. What appeared in their place was the brightly painted image of the Lady. Once news spread of Juan Diego’s sightings of the Mother of God speaking to him in his native tongue, thousands traveled to Mexico City to see the legendary cape of the ‘brown‘ Virgin Mary. Some say the Virgin of Guadalupe represents early efforts at syncretism by the Catholic church in an era when indigenous religious practices were discouraged. Jeanette Rodriguez explores this theory in Our Lady of Guadalupe, beginning with an in depth analysis of the Aztec empire and its eventual conquest by the Spanish. Rodriguez argues that, through conquest and colonialism, Christian deities overpowered indigenous gods in terms of propagandistic exposure and eventually a dichotomy of virtues emerges. The monotheistic male god came to represent power, assertiveness, rationality and independence, attributes once associated with Aztec gods. Opposing characteristics like purity, virginity, fertility and maternal love were then attributed to female deity figures, like the Euro-Catholic Virgin Mary and Aztec goddess, Tonantzin. Concurrently, contends Rodriguez, the folkloric story of Juan Diego and La Virgen on Tepayac Hill emerges and the legend of Guadalupe is born. Eventually, this image evolves into the dominant national icon, symbolizing the new mestiza, who was born from both Spanish and indigenous blood. Jody Brant Smith agrees, in The Image of Guadalupe, that she appeared â€Å"miraculously on the cactus cloth tilma, or cape, of Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, in 1531, a mere dozen years after Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico for the King of Spain. † This cape proved valuable to the Church and its goals of conversion. â€Å"In just seven years, from 1532 to 1538, eight million Indians were converted to Christianity. Whether one believes the Virgin de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego on the hill or believe that Guadalupe was created to convert the Indians to the Catholic Church, the legend of Guadalupe as we know her today begins at this time. As a placebo for a changing guard, La Virgen de Guadalupe proved highly successful. The iconic image of La Virgen de Guadalupe remains static in both form and symbolism until the mid twentieth cen tury, when a new movement among Mexican-Americans emerges in California, dubbed the Chicano movement. As visual propaganda becomes a large part of the movement, a significant body of art with common themes and styles, known as Chicano art, follows. This shift in subject matter among Mexican-American artists toward a specific social and political agenda began earlier, as evidenced by the work of Rivera, Orozco, and Posada, but, it isn’t until the mid 1960’s that national or religious iconographic images are recycled to support a larger political or social agenda. Scholars cite the famous 1966 United Farm Workers protest, in defense of migrant farm worker’s rights, as the beginning of what is now known as the Chicano Art movement. Organizers for the protest communicated through graphic art forms, like newsletters, posters, and cartoons. Symbolism and iconography that drew upon cultural resources, like La Virgen de Guadalupe and an Aztec inspired thunderbird, connected visual communication to these agendas. Reclamation of traditional cultural and religious iconography for political purposes becomes a recurring theme among Mexican-American artists and the defining criteria for the classification of art as Chicano. While Chicano art differs from Mexican art in that Mexican and other Latin art is rooted in pre-Columbian traditions and folklore, Chicano art also acknowledges American education and experience as part of what shapes an artist and his message. On the heels of the Chicano movement, the Civil Rights movement, and public outrage over America’s participation in the Vietnam War, women’s issues also battle for attention on a national level. Feminism as a movement gains significant momentum in the 1960’s; within a decade, Chicana feminists begin to use Guadalupe in their artwork. As Rosie the Riveter forged a path for Anglo feminists, Guadalupe remains the most powerful vehicle for the Chicana agenda. Up until this point, the Virgin was most often appropriated for purely inspirational purposes, and artist’s interpretation of her image and intent remain congruous to her religious authority. Now, in light of new feminist theory, says Felipe Ehrenberg in Framing an Icon: Guadalupe and the Artist’s Vision,â€Å" Latina artists â€Å"seek to reconstruct the deity’s presence, and in doing so, manage to define her usefulness to their causes. † Ester Hernandez, a Chicana artist working early in the movement’s history, is one of the first to utilize the visual power of La Virgen for feminist purposes. Hernandez’s work, which has exhibited internationally, focuses on â€Å"the dignity, strength, experiences, and dreams of Latina women. † The etching, La Virgen de Guadalupe Defendiendo los Derechos de los Xicanos, (etching; 1974), does not explore issues of sexuality, but rather Hernandez takes the opportunity to make a social statement. The image portrays a woman in karate clothes, stepping out of the classic ring of sunrays, with one leg in the air in a classic Karate pose. Reinterpreted by Hernandez, La Virgen is now a symbol of emerging feminist ideas, and will set the path for similar explorations by other Chicana artists. Born in 1942, Yolanda Lopez is another Chicana artist who uses Guadalupe as a springboard to discuss a feminist agenda. Lopez portrays herself in the image of la virgen in Portrait of the Artist as the Virgin of Guadalupe (oil pastel on paper, 1978, 32â€Å"x24â€Å"). No longer a passive icon, Lopez utilizes Guadalupe to represent slowly shifting views about gender issues and sexuality in Chicano culture. Lopez situates herself in the position of the virgin, assuming the role. However, Lopez instead depicts herself athletic and strong, even assertive. She wears jogging shoes and a grin as she appears to sprint toward the viewer. Juan Diego, the putti-like boy that generally supports the virgin in traditional versions, instead lay underfoot. Still, characteristics that identify this portrayal as an interpretation of Guadalupe are unmistakable: the palette remains faithful to original portrayals, the iconic rays surround her, and the navy tilma billows behind Lopez as she moves. For early Chicana feminist artists, utilizing the iconic image of La Virgen de Guadalupe is critical to their agenda; in the tradition of the Chicano art movement, Guadalupe recalls nationalistic affiliations while including gender issues as part of the debate. However, secondary to political concerns of the Chicano movement as a whole, Chicana artists whose work serves to insert gender issues into the rubric of the Chicano movement are criticized within the community. Says Gaspar de Alba, â€Å"[a]ny divergence from that role, be it through a political engagement with the ideology of women’s liberation, as in the case of Chicana feminists [†¦] mmediately casts Chicanas who subscribe to either or both of these choices in a suspect light. † Further challenging the virgin ideal, new generations of women are reinterpreting her image from a feminist viewpoint to explore sexuality as it pertains to gender. Perhaps the most controversial example of such discourse involve s the work of Mexican-American artist, Alma Lopez. Lopez, a contemporary Chicana artist, explores her relationship with La Virgen de Guadalupe through mixed media piece titled Our Lady (digital print on canvas; 1999). She planned to show it at the Fullerton Museum Center as part of a larger exhibit, â€Å"The Virgin of Guadalupe: Interpreting Devotion. † The work depicts her partner, Raquel Salinas, posed and framed in the likeness of la Virgen de Guadalupe. Lopez choices, using her lover as subject and depicting her clothed only in bunches of roses worn like a bikini, reflect the difficulties experienced by Lopez and other lesbian women in a deeply Catholic culture. Lopez explores personal contradictions between her religious piety and her own sexuality as a lesbian woman of Mexican-American descent. She saw the image of Guadalupe as one that belonged to her, to interpret as she saw fit. I am relating her to the women in my life, my mom, my grandma, my aunt. They had to be strong to survive, like Christs mother. The piece caused a controversy among Mexican-American citizens in the community, and many citizens worked tirelessly to block the work from public view. Gustavo Arellano covers this story for OC Weekly in an article titled, â€Å"Nuestra Senora de Censorship: Who Says the Virgin Can’t be Sexy? † which discusses the controversy surrounding the exhibit. Arellano cites a letter written by Ernesto Cienfuegos, editor of La Voz de Aztlan, a website devoted to contemporary Chicano/a issues. In the letter, Cienfuegos expresses his outrage (and homophobic sexism) with Lopez and her work. â€Å"Firstly, the person†¦representing the ‘Mother of Jesus’ is nothing less than Raquel Salinas, the lesbian lover of the so called artist Alma Lopez. Raquel Sa linas calls herself ‘La Chuparosa’ which Alma Lopez often depicts on her abominable images. † He goes on to assert that such artwork is being â€Å"†¦promoted by many USA based pornographers† and dismisses the museums director’s decision to feature the piece as â€Å"†¦merely ignorant of the facts and not involved in an anti-Mexican effort to destroy our most revered spiritual beliefs and cultural values. † Lopez defends her position, citing her unique perspective as a Chicana artist, and says of the backlash, â€Å"I admit, I was surprised by the violent reaction to Our Lady because I am a community artist born in Mexico and raised in California with the Virgin as a constant in my home and my community. I am know that there is nothing wrong with this image which was inspired by the experiences of many Chicanas and their complex relationship to La Virgen de Guadalupe. I am not the first Chicana to reinterpret the image with a feminist perspective, and Im positive I wont be the last. Cienfuegos‘ letter touches upon a larger, more serious concern for Chicana artists, such as Lopez, who utilize Guadalupe in their art. Such evident venom and blanket disapproval is consistent with aggression received by many homosexual activists, including that of the Mexican-American woman, for whom both gender, religion, and race are inextricably linked. Gaspar de Alba offers insight into why Chicana artists like Lopez have met with so much opposition, even within her own community. Viewed as ‘wannabe’ white women, Chicana feminists are still accused in some inner circles of betraying the Chicano revolution and subscribing to a divisive politics that breaks up the ‘familia’ -both symbolically, by criticizing the ‘brothers’ and ‘jefes’ of the movement and calling them on their sexism and heterosexism, and literally, by not using their sexuality in the service of breeding new revolutionaries for La Causa[. Sandra Cisneros’ essay, â€Å"Guadalupe as a Sex Goddess,† offers an alternative contemporary perspective on the implied symbolism of the Virgin of Guadalupe through her personal experiences growing up in a Mexican-American household. Within this framework, she reconciles her cultural roots with her emerging sexual curiosity. She writes that she looked for signs of Gua dalupe as a ‘whole woman. ’ She wanted to look â€Å"underneath her dress† to see if she was a real woman. † Cisneros’ discussion about â€Å"the double chastity belt of ignorance and erguenza† also touches on the double standard that exists in Mexican-American culture as it relates to La Virgen. â€Å"Did boys have to aspire to be Jesus? I never saw any evidence of it. † These types of double standards perpetuate la Virgen as the symbol for a virgin/whore dichotomy deeply rooted in Mexican-American culture. As Emma Perez writes in Sexuality and Discourse, â€Å"Consciousness is born out of one’s intimate awareness of one’s oppression. † By claiming sitio y lengua, or a place and a voice, she states Chicanas and other women of color can form a new discourse on issues of feminism and sexuality. Claiming sitio y lengua, as argued by Perez, also includes the freedom to adopt images and icons like La Virgen. For centuries, la Virgen de Guadalupe has served as the single strongest symbol of virginity in the Americas. New generations of Chicana artists, such as Isis Rodriguez, San Francisco based cartoonist, adopt Guadalupe as an image, manipulating or controlling her attributes, claiming a personal, as opposed to cultural relationship, with la Virgen. In a discussion with Benjamin Francisco Hernandez for Low Rider Arte Magazine, Rodriguez says of this piece, â€Å"Whenever I have her in my artwork it’s not so much disrespectful as it is that she carries certain virtues that we assign her. She is a protectress [sic] or a caregiver. I put her in those roles. † Others, like Sandra Cisneros and Lopez, also acknowledge personal connections with Guadalupe, yet question what is known, and not known, about the Americas’ most revered female figure. As Cisneros notes in â€Å"Guadalupe is a Sex Goddess,† â€Å"When I see La Virgen de Guadalupe I want to lift her dress as I did my dolls and look to see if she comes with chones, and does her panocha look like mine, and does she have dark nipples too? † Like the term Chicana, the symbolic meaning of the Virgin of Guadalupe is always growing, evolving, and changing. As she was born out of syncretism, it is befitting her history to continually redefine her in contemporary terms, by contemporary participants of society. Alma Lopez and Sandra Cisneros have experienced firsthand the backlash from the Mexican-American community and society at large. It is more difficult to examine why something makes society uncomfortable than to ignore or destroy it. It is the very awkwardness, tension and insecurity of the experience itself that serves to formulate new and relevant questions about solidarity, femininity, and sexuality within the Chicano art. The Evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano Art free essay sample A beautiful dark-skinned brunette stands before you. Her long, flowing hair beautifully frames her sweet face and demure smile. Yards of richly colored clothing adorn her tall, slender frame. Rays of sunlight appear from behind, emphasizing pure beauty. Her hands are joined together and she holds them at her chest in worship or, perhaps, in gratitude. Who is she, or rather, who do you see? Practicing Catholics all over Central and South America see a venerated patron saint. In Mexico, she is immediately recognizable as symbolic mother of a nation, ‘nuestra madre. New generations of mestizos see a symbol of all that is woman, as real and complex as their mothers, sisters, daughters, and lovers. Who you see depends on who you are, but all identify her as the Virgin of Guadalupe, perhaps the most recognizable icon to emerge out of post-conquest Americas. La Virgen of Guadalupe has evolved throughout history as a cross-cultural and multi-generational icon of virginity, femininity, purity, and maternal love. We will write a custom essay sample on The Evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano Art or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Her presence can be seen everywhere, on clothing, jewelry, car windows, and even on coffins. This essay charts the evolution of La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicano art, from religious icon to feminist mascot; I examine the forms in which contemporary Mexican-American artists have adopted this image, in the tradition of the Chicano art movement, to galvanize communities toward a common social or political cause, and, as Chicana artists will co-opt her image as a vehicle to assert gender issues within the larger agenda, I will argue that the opposition to such efforts reveals a double-standard of allegiance in stark contrast to the goals of the Chicano movement. To understand how La Virgen has evolved outside of her intended religious context, her genesis must first be examined. Origin stories vary but, according to tradition, on Dec 9, 1531, Juan Diego first saw La Virgen on top of Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She instructed him to have the Bishop build a church on the site. Little Juan Diego immediately found the Bishop and relayed the message, but was dismissed as a storyteller. Three days later, on Juan Diego’s walk to church, la Virgen again reappeared. This time, she told Juan Diego to go the hilltop and pick roses, pack them in his tilma, and take them to the bishop to prove he saw her and to convince the bishop to build a church there. When he presented them to the bishop as instructed, he dropped his cloak with the roses. What appeared in their place was the brightly painted image of the Lady. Once news spread of Juan Diego’s sightings of the Mother of God speaking to him in his native tongue, thousands traveled to Mexico City to see the legendary cape of the ‘brown‘ Virgin Mary. Some say the Virgin of Guadalupe represents early efforts at syncretism by the Catholic church in an era when indigenous religious practices were discouraged. Jeanette Rodriguez explores this theory in Our Lady of Guadalupe, beginning with an in depth analysis of the Aztec empire and its eventual conquest by the Spanish. Rodriguez argues that, through conquest and colonialism, Christian deities overpowered indigenous gods in terms of propagandistic exposure and eventually a dichotomy of virtues emerges. The monotheistic male god came to represent power, assertiveness, rationality and independence, attributes once associated with Aztec gods. Opposing characteristics like purity, virginity, fertility and maternal love were then attributed to female deity figures, like the Euro-Catholic Virgin Mary and Aztec goddess, Tonantzin. Concurrently, contends Rodriguez, the folkloric story of Juan Diego and La Virgen on Tepayac Hill emerges and the legend of Guadalupe is born. Eventually, this image evolves into the dominant national icon, symbolizing the new mestiza, who was born from both Spanish and indigenous blood. Jody Brant Smith agrees, in The Image of Guadalupe, that she appeared â€Å"miraculously on the cactus cloth tilma, or cape, of Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, in 1531, a mere dozen years after Hernan Cortes conquered Mexico for the King of Spain. † This cape proved valuable to the Church and its goals of conversion. â€Å"In just seven years, from 1532 to 1538, eight million Indians were converted to Christianity. Whether one believes the Virgin de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego on the hill or believe that Guadalupe was created to convert the Indians to the Catholic Church, the legend of Guadalupe as we know her today begins at this time. As a placebo for a changing guard, La Virgen de Guadalupe proved highly successful. The iconic image of La Virgen de Guadalupe remains static in both form and symbolism until the mid twentieth cen tury, when a new movement among Mexican-Americans emerges in California, dubbed the Chicano movement. As visual propaganda becomes a large part of the movement, a significant body of art with common themes and styles, known as Chicano art, follows. This shift in subject matter among Mexican-American artists toward a specific social and political agenda began earlier, as evidenced by the work of Rivera, Orozco, and Posada, but, it isn’t until the mid 1960’s that national or religious iconographic images are recycled to support a larger political or social agenda. Scholars cite the famous 1966 United Farm Workers protest, in defense of migrant farm worker’s rights, as the beginning of what is now known as the Chicano Art movement. Organizers for the protest communicated through graphic art forms, like newsletters, posters, and cartoons. Symbolism and iconography that drew upon cultural resources, like La Virgen de Guadalupe and an Aztec inspired thunderbird, connected visual communication to these agendas. Reclamation of traditional cultural and religious iconography for political purposes becomes a recurring theme among Mexican-American artists and the defining criteria for the classification of art as Chicano. While Chicano art differs from Mexican art in that Mexican and other Latin art is rooted in pre-Columbian traditions and folklore, Chicano art also acknowledges American education and experience as part of what shapes an artist and his message. On the heels of the Chicano movement, the Civil Rights movement, and public outrage over America’s participation in the Vietnam War, women’s issues also battle for attention on a national level. Feminism as a movement gains significant momentum in the 1960’s; within a decade, Chicana feminists begin to use Guadalupe in their artwork. As Rosie the Riveter forged a path for Anglo feminists, Guadalupe remains the most powerful vehicle for the Chicana agenda. Up until this point, the Virgin was most often appropriated for purely inspirational purposes, and artist’s interpretation of her image and intent remain congruous to her religious authority. Now, in light of new feminist theory, says Felipe Ehrenberg in Framing an Icon: Guadalupe and the Artist’s Vision,â€Å" Latina artists â€Å"seek to reconstruct the deity’s presence, and in doing so, manage to define her usefulness to their causes. † Ester Hernandez, a Chicana artist working early in the movement’s history, is one of the first to utilize the visual power of La Virgen for feminist purposes. Hernandez’s work, which has exhibited internationally, focuses on â€Å"the dignity, strength, experiences, and dreams of Latina women. † The etching, La Virgen de Guadalupe Defendiendo los Derechos de los Xicanos, (etching; 1974), does not explore issues of sexuality, but rather Hernandez takes the opportunity to make a social statement. The image portrays a woman in karate clothes, stepping out of the classic ring of sunrays, with one leg in the air in a classic Karate pose. Reinterpreted by Hernandez, La Virgen is now a symbol of emerging feminist ideas, and will set the path for similar explorations by other Chicana artists. Born in 1942, Yolanda Lopez is another Chicana artist who uses Guadalupe as a springboard to discuss a feminist agenda. Lopez portrays herself in the image of la virgen in Portrait of the Artist as the Virgin of Guadalupe (oil pastel on paper, 1978, 32â€Å"x24â€Å"). No longer a passive icon, Lopez utilizes Guadalupe to represent slowly shifting views about gender issues and sexuality in Chicano culture. Lopez situates herself in the position of the virgin, assuming the role. However, Lopez instead depicts herself athletic and strong, even assertive. She wears jogging shoes and a grin as she appears to sprint toward the viewer. Juan Diego, the putti-like boy that generally supports the virgin in traditional versions, instead lay underfoot. Still, characteristics that identify this portrayal as an interpretation of Guadalupe are unmistakable: the palette remains faithful to original portrayals, the iconic rays surround her, and the navy tilma billows behind Lopez as she moves. For early Chicana feminist artists, utilizing the iconic image of La Virgen de Guadalupe is critical to their agenda; in the tradition of the Chicano art movement, Guadalupe recalls nationalistic affiliations while including gender issues as part of the debate. However, secondary to political concerns of the Chicano movement as a whole, Chicana artists whose work serves to insert gender issues into the rubric of the Chicano movement are criticized within the community. Says Gaspar de Alba, â€Å"[a]ny divergence from that role, be it through a political engagement with the ideology of women’s liberation, as in the case of Chicana feminists [†¦] mmediately casts Chicanas who subscribe to either or both of these choices in a suspect light. † Further challenging the virgin ideal, new generations of women are reinterpreting her image from a feminist viewpoint to explore sexuality as it pertains to gender. Perhaps the most controversial example of such discourse involve s the work of Mexican-American artist, Alma Lopez. Lopez, a contemporary Chicana artist, explores her relationship with La Virgen de Guadalupe through mixed media piece titled Our Lady (digital print on canvas; 1999). She planned to show it at the Fullerton Museum Center as part of a larger exhibit, â€Å"The Virgin of Guadalupe: Interpreting Devotion. † The work depicts her partner, Raquel Salinas, posed and framed in the likeness of la Virgen de Guadalupe. Lopez choices, using her lover as subject and depicting her clothed only in bunches of roses worn like a bikini, reflect the difficulties experienced by Lopez and other lesbian women in a deeply Catholic culture. Lopez explores personal contradictions between her religious piety and her own sexuality as a lesbian woman of Mexican-American descent. She saw the image of Guadalupe as one that belonged to her, to interpret as she saw fit. I am relating her to the women in my life, my mom, my grandma, my aunt. They had to be strong to survive, like Christs mother. The piece caused a controversy among Mexican-American citizens in the community, and many citizens worked tirelessly to block the work from public view. Gustavo Arellano covers this story for OC Weekly in an article titled, â€Å"Nuestra Senora de Censorship: Who Says the Virgin Can’t be Sexy? † which discusses the controversy surrounding the exhibit. Arellano cites a letter written by Ernesto Cienfuegos, editor of La Voz de Aztlan, a website devoted to contemporary Chicano/a issues. In the letter, Cienfuegos expresses his outrage (and homophobic sexism) with Lopez and her work. â€Å"Firstly, the person†¦representing the ‘Mother of Jesus’ is nothing less than Raquel Salinas, the lesbian lover of the so called artist Alma Lopez. Raquel Sa linas calls herself ‘La Chuparosa’ which Alma Lopez often depicts on her abominable images. † He goes on to assert that such artwork is being â€Å"†¦promoted by many USA based pornographers† and dismisses the museums director’s decision to feature the piece as â€Å"†¦merely ignorant of the facts and not involved in an anti-Mexican effort to destroy our most revered spiritual beliefs and cultural values. † Lopez defends her position, citing her unique perspective as a Chicana artist, and says of the backlash, â€Å"I admit, I was surprised by the violent reaction to Our Lady because I am a community artist born in Mexico and raised in California with the Virgin as a constant in my home and my community. I am know that there is nothing wrong with this image which was inspired by the experiences of many Chicanas and their complex relationship to La Virgen de Guadalupe. I am not the first Chicana to reinterpret the image with a feminist perspective, and Im positive I wont be the last. Cienfuegos‘ letter touches upon a larger, more serious concern for Chicana artists, such as Lopez, who utilize Guadalupe in their art. Such evident venom and blanket disapproval is consistent with aggression received by many homosexual activists, including that of the Mexican-American woman, for whom both gender, religion, and race are inextricably linked. Gaspar de Alba offers insight into why Chicana artists like Lopez have met with so much opposition, even within her own community. Viewed as ‘wannabe’ white women, Chicana feminists are still accused in some inner circles of betraying the Chicano revolution and subscribing to a divisive politics that breaks up the ‘familia’ -both symbolically, by criticizing the ‘brothers’ and ‘jefes’ of the movement and calling them on their sexism and heterosexism, and literally, by not using their sexuality in the service of breeding new revolutionaries for La Causa[. Sandra Cisneros’ essay, â€Å"Guadalupe as a Sex Goddess,† offers an alternative contemporary perspective on the implied symbolism of the Virgin of Guadalupe through her personal experiences growing up in a Mexican-American household. Within this framework, she reconciles her cultural roots with her emerging sexual curiosity. She writes that she looked for signs of Guadalupe as a ‘whole woman. ’ She wanted to look â€Å"underneath her dress† to see if she was a real woman. † Cisneros’ discussion about â€Å"the double chastity belt of ignorance and erguenza† also touches on the double standard that exists in Mexican-American culture as it relates to La Virgen. â€Å"Did boys have to aspire to be Jesus? I never saw any evidence of it. † These types of double standards perpetuate la Virgen as the symbol for a virgin/whore dichotomy deeply rooted in Mexican-American culture. As Emma Perez writes in Sexuality and Discourse, â⠂¬Å"Consciousness is born out of one’s intimate awareness of one’s oppression.

Australian visions Essays

Australian visions Essays Australian visions Essay Australian visions Essay Different Australian visions are frequently portrayed in assorted texts and gesture images. Australian movie Strictly Ballroom 1992 is a great illustration as the manager uses really extraordinary and theatrical manner of filmmaking to show a humourous narrative that reflects assorted ideals in Australian society with filming and movie techniques. The film non merely showcases the character of the underdog particularly through the character of Fran. but besides illustrates the construct of multiculturalism and the thought of accomplishing dreams on the land of Australia. which are all constructs that relates to different facet of Australian visions. On the other manus the verse form My country’ written by Dorothea McKellar. expresses other ideals of Australia that are more straight related with the land. Through the usage of poetic techniques such as metaphor the poet was able to picture both the natural danger and beauty of the state that are besides valued as of import porti on of Australian visions. One of the chief focal points of the film Strictly Ballroom is the feature of the underdog. a term that is closely associated with Australian values. The belief of giving everyone a just spell is to the full expressed through the narrative discharge of Fran. whom like the ugly duckling was transformed into something beautiful by the terminal of the film. This construct is expressed through the Baz Luhrmann’s portray of this character. The apposition between her first visual aspect and her public presentation at the terminal to the full showcases Fran’s function as the underdog. This is reinforced with her ruddy frock and the lighting used during the stoping of the film. Differs to other contestants’ apparels that looked superficial and extraordinary. the reliable coloring material of ruddy used for Fran made her stood out as a glamourous. confident and beautiful adult female. which is wholly different to her apparently unattractive first visual aspect from the start of the movie. This is further on supported by the lighting of the film. which non merely focuses on her and Scott’s dance. but besides stresses the affect of the ruddy costume. doing the frock about a dramatic symbol of her successful transmutation and accomplishment within this movie. On the other manus. the impact of her visual aspect besides to the full represents Australian’s idealization of the underdog. Another subject of Strictly Ballroom is the thought of multiculturalism as this film depicts the transformed modern society that accepts and embraces cultural differences. This is expressed through the usage of music in the movie. For most portion of the film the music used is traditional dance hall tonss or Australian authoritative vocals such as time after time’ . which makes the simple instrumental Spanish music played in Fran’s house stood out. This non merely illustrates the differences between Fran and Scott’s background but besides puts the audience i nto the character’s places to see another type of dancing and civilization that exists on the land of Australia. This construct is once more strengthened at the last scene of the film when all the audiences joined with Scott’s parents and danced together. The long shooting that presents the incorporate crowd combines with mid shootings that focus on specific people like Fran’s male parent who has different background reinforce the positive intension of multiculturalism. This besides presents Strictly Ballroom as a film that mirrored the value of modern-day Australian society. which is all about credence and embracing. The pursue for dream is a construct that is extremely valued in Australia and the film Strictly Ballroom relate this thought with the impression of get the better ofing fright and the challenge of authorization. The focal point on lines such as A life lived in fright is a life half lived shows the importance of this in relation to the character’s will of accomplishing their ends. However their desire is frequently dishearten by the dancing federation. The uninterrupted usage of low angle shootings and the deficiency of music playing when characters such as Barry Fife talked set up their province of power. which the chief characters have to suppress. This besides made the scene from terminal of the film extremely symbolic. With the success of Scott and Fran’s public presentation. there was a high angle shooting picturing a falling Fife who tumbled with the trophies on the tabular array that contrasted with the old usage of low angel shootings. This scene non merely served as a amusing alleviation for its audience but besides represents the ruin of the authorization. emphasizing the significance of this confrontation in footings of the Scott and Fran’s accomplish of their dream. In context of this movie. these thoughts reflect the possibility of making one’s end in Australia. Just like the character of the underdog this besides relate to the stereotyped impression that this land epitomize a sense of hope and cha nce. My state written by Dorothea Mackellar is a verse form that illustrates both the natural beauty and danger of Australia. picturing really different visions of the same state in comparing to Strictly Ballroom. The poet’s repeated use of assorted rocks to depict the nature scenery of this state non merely stresses the genuineness of those characteristics. but besides made the rocks a metaphor for the land’s perfection. This is seen through lines such as An opal-hearted country’ and Sapphire-misted mountain’ . which continuously reinforce the echt impression of beauty in Australia. On the other manus Mackellar besides uses personification to depict the danger of this land. Lines such as Her beauty and her terror’ and her pitiless blue sky’ strengthen the image of the threating nature environment. giving the readers a existent sense of fright and worship for the poet’s state. Even though this text shared limited similarity with Baz Luhrman n’s Strictly Ballroom. it still manages to show visions and word pictures of Australia that is extremely valued in this state.

Safety Management in the Construction Industry Essay

Safety Management in the Construction Industry - Essay Example Defense Estates should devise a safety policy during the planning stages of the Boiler project so that each and every individual should understand and follow the safety principles. The general health and safety policy is the way in which a company sets out its intention to manage health and safety. During the workplace inspection at the Boiler site every component of the total system should be included, e.g. safety policy, attitudes, training, process, plant layout, operating procedures, emergency plans. Audits and reviews at Defence Estate should be aimed at discovering the strengths and weakness and the main area of vulnerability or risk. Safety survey should be done at the boiler site which is a detailed, in-depth examination of narrower the field of activity, e.g., major key areas revealed by safety audits, individual plants, procedures or specific problems at the site. Safety inspection at the site comes in the form of a routine scheduled inspection of the boiler unit or oil sto rage units at the facility. The inspection should check maintenance standards, employee involvement, working practices, and that work is carried out in accordance with the stipulated procedures. (Levitt, Samelson, 1987) Defence Estates must have a written health and safety policy when it has five or more employees. The health and safety at Defence Estate should have three distinct parts: The statement of policy Organisation Arrangements The statement of policy This is a statement of the health and safety policy, Defence Estate's intent to have high standards of the health and safety policy and their aims should be included in this policy. Organisation- the organisation for carrying out the policy, including, as necessary, reference to the management and safety representatives and safety committees, it should encompass 'who is responsible for, or going to do what' and when and how they will achieve it. Arrangements- the arrangement for the effective implementation of the general statement of health and safety policy, including technical and other procedures relating to the health and safety aspects of the work undertaken by Defence Estates. It may also contain details of the health and safety responsibilities of all the employees in the business. Principal Safety Officers Principal Safety Officers should be hired at Defence Estates whose main Objectives should be to provide a comprehensive advisory service to all Council Directorates Department Heads and their employees, on all matters affecting health and safety at work and the implementation of the Health and Safety Policy. Responsibility and Organization for Safety at the Boiler Site Accidents can be prevented at the

Review paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review paper - Essay Example The Race Myth written by Graves’ centers on crucial matters of racism in the American community. He presents in the book that American consider immigrants lazy and have genetic inheritance that affect their well-being. They even felt that these African Americans needed to work harder in order to save themselves as they did (Graves 122). He noted in his book that the Americans did not consider the African American oppression when giving these opinions about them. According to Graves, the American society provides support for racial oppression in the American society, and it is through racial discrimination that the African American experience health disparities (122). He felt that most African Americans still consider that there is some genetic legitimacy within the society that contributes to racial discrimination. However, this is not true because racism only emanates as a result of societal stereotypes. In this book, the author wants the readers to understand that racism is a socially developed concept aimed at overpowering African Americans instead of a genetic experience that explains racial differences in the society (Graves 123). Racial discrimination was started by the Europeans who made it extend in their communities. They accepted the concept of racial order that was widespread during that time. According to the author, the constructed racial discrimination helped the Europeans to control the continent (Graves 123). He presents a strong concept against biological arguments concerning racial discrimination because of genetic factors. Graves mainly points out social factors that contribute to racial discrimination, and he believes that only two percent of genetic interferences can contribute to genetic difference (124). Grave also questions the concept that there are genetic specific drugs for specific racial group

The difference between concepts of Absorption costing and Variable Essay

The difference between concepts of Absorption costing and Variable Costing - Essay Example The difference between concepts of Absorption costing and Variable Costing Direct costs are those costs that can be easily associated with a specific identity that may be a product or a service. Cost incurred for purchase of material, labor costs earned to produce the final product etc; all are a part of direct cost as they can be easily linked with per unit cost of a product (Gazely M A & Lambert M, 2006). Such costs vary with the nature of a business, for instance if a company manufactures electronic gadget like microprocessor and an expert production manager is hired for the job then his salary would be considered as a direct cost or if an individual runs a car washing business which is imparting of service, then the wages paid to the people hired for the job will be taken to be a direct cost. Direct costs are most of the time taken to be as variable costs. Variable costs increase proportionately with the increase in the quantity of production, thus they are also considered to be direct costs in nature. But in case when the manager or person acquired to monitor the production process is paid a regular amount of salary every month or for a particular period of time irrespective of the volume of production then it is called a fixed cost. The different types of direct costs consist of direct materials and direct labor. Direct materials are directly identified with the particular product (Seal W, Garrison H R & Noreen W E, 2006). For instance, to manufacture product like furniture, direct material required for it would be wood, varnish, polish etc. When charging expenses to federally sponsored agreements, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) faculty and staff must be aware of the appropriateness of the charges.   OMB Circular A-21 provides the criteria for direct charging costs to federally sponsored programs.   The basic principle is that costs directly charged to a sponsored project must be allocable, allowable, reasonable and necessary, and treated consistently. A cost to be called as a direct cost must result in a direct gain from an activity and also it should be directly allocable to the specific project or task taken into consideration (Hilton W R, Robert J. Swieringa J R & Turner J M, 1988). On the whole direct costs must be: Allocable: if the costs can be bifurcated into various heads such as

Effectiveness of Exercise Programme on Balance Score

Effectiveness of Exercise Programme on Balance Score This chapter deals with the summary and conclusion made from present study. It clarifies the limitations of the study, implications and recommendations given for various areas in nursing practice, nursing education, administration and research. The primary purpose of the intervention is to improve the balance score among elderly people in the age group of 60-80 years. DISCUSSION The present study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise programme on balance score among elderly people. One group pretest post test (preexperimental design) was adopted for this study. The sample size was 30.All the 30 subjects were participated in the study. On probability purposive sampling was used to select the samples. The researcher conducted the study to assess whether there is any difference in balance score among elderly after the exercise programme. Based on the objectives and hypothesis of the study data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Demographic description of the subjects. According to the age group in the 4groups, majority of the subjects were in the age group of both (71-75) and (76-80) years that were about 30%.23.30% of the subjects belongs to the age group between (60-65)years,16.60% of the subjects were between (66-70) years. Clinical description of the subjects 43.33% of subjects had chronic diseases, 23.30% of subjects were taking medication regularly. The first objective was to assess the balance score among elderly. The berg balance scale shows, the distribution of subjects according to pretest score 36.6% were poor in balance and 63.33% were good in balance. 22.3 were the pretest mean score. Shkuratova,N. et al.,(2004) conducted a study to assess the effectiveness of aging on balance control during walking. The study was conducted in gait laboratory in Australia. The design used was two group repeated measures design. Convenient sample of 20 healthy older adults and 20 young subjects were participated. The outcome measures used were gait speed, stride length and double –limb support duration by using foot witch system. Significant interaction between age and balance were measured by ANOVA. By conclusion, the author says that, balance strategies are specific and vary according to age and dual task conditions. Older adults walked more slowly as compared to younger people when turning or performing secondary tasks. Evaluate the effectiveness of exercise programme in improving balance score among elderly. The comparison between the balance score before and after the exercise programme was statistically evaluated by using paired t test.The mean pretest score was 22.3and mean post test score was 39.5.The obtained paired t value was 18.49 which is greater than the table value and it was significant at p Tony pigford et al., (2010) conducted a study to examine the effectiveness of balance training programme on balance control among elderly people with balance impairments. The design used for this study was pre experimental case design. An elderly patient with recent history of falls involved in this study, in subjects who underwent 2 weeks of balance training programme in the form of balance exercises. Pretest and post test outcome measures were recorded by using berg balance scale and activity-specific Balance. In BBS score, the score was increased by 12 points as compaired to pretest. The authors concluded that, the patient shows improvements in balance outcome measures after the exercise programme. Associate the balance scores with selected demographic and clinical variables. The association of balance score using ANOVA with selected demographic and clinical variables shows that, ´F ´ value for age was .865 and there value were not significant at any level. Hence there is no significant association exit between the balance score and the demographic variable. The association of balance score using t test with selected demographic and clinical variables shows that, the calculated ‘t’ value for education,maritalstatus,chronicdiseases,and use of medications were .929,1.357,1.829 and.392 respectively. These values were not significant at any level and there is no significant association exit between the balance scores and demographic and clinical variables. SUMMARY The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise programme on balance score among elderly. It was conducted in St. Thomas old age home at Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore for which the following objectives were formulated. Assess the balance scores among elderly. Evaluate the effectiveness of exercise programme in improving balance scores among elderly. Associate the balance scores with selected demographic and clinical variables. The exercise programme selected as independent variable and significant changes in balance among elderly were considered as dependent variable for this study. The study tested the objectives and hypothesis and there was a highly significant difference in pre and posttest balance scores in subjects who underwent exercise programme. One group pretest post test pre-experimental design was adopted for this study. The sample comprises of total 30 elderly people in the age group of 60-80 years. Non probability purposive sampling technique was used. The tool for data collection consists of the demographic and clinical variables of elderly people, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) to assess the balance scores among elderly people during the pre and post test. The study was conducted in St. Thomas old age home at Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore. After the pretest, the researcher involved the study subjects in the exercise programme to improve the balance. Based on the hypothesis and objectives, data were analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics to document the effectiveness of exercise programme on balance score among elderly. The exercise programme had a significant effect in improving the balance scores, which was assessed through post test.The present study tested and proved the hypothesis MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY The pretest and post test results showed that exercise programme helps to improve the balance scores among elderly. It was an effective intervention to decrease the balance problems among elderly. The calculated mean pretest balance score of elderly was 22.3 and post test balance score was 39.5 In the pretest, 36.6% of elderly people were in poor balance score and 63.33% were in good balance score. In the post test, 50% of elderly people were in good balance score and 50% were in excellent balance score. The obtained paired t test value for balance score was 18.490, which is greater than the table value and was highly significant at (p The association of balance scores with age using ANOVA reveals that the calculated ‘F’ value was .865 and it was statistically not significant at any level, there was no association exit with the balance score and demographic variable. Test with balance score and selected variables had no association. CONCLUSION The following conclusions were drawn from the study. Based on statistical analysis, formulated hypothesis is accepted and evidence supports that, there is a significant improvement in balance scores among elderly after exercise programme. So, exercise programme is an effective intervention in improving the balance score among elderly. IMPLICATIONS Older adults are more prone to get injuries due to physiological and psychological changes, so nurses have an important role to take care of elderly. Fall related injuries are most common among older adults, So effective intervention is necessary for the proper management. NURSING PRACTICE Nursing staffs can explain about the exercise programme, to the older adults and to the family members. Implication of this intervention will develop awareness in staff nurses to take adequate safety measures while taking care of elderly. NURSING EDUCATION Nursing students can learn the different types of balance exercises with the findings of the study and also they can assess the balance impairments among elderly in a good manner. Nurse educators can arrange simulation classes on balance exercise programmes to teach about the types of exercises. NURSING ADMINISTRATION Nursing administrator can teach the staff nurses regarding exercise for elderly, thereby improving standard of nursing care. Nurse administrator, can encourage the staff nurses, to teach the patients about exercises programme. Nurse administrator can conduct in-service education regarding exercise programme. Nurse administrator can make guidelines for exercise programme especially in case of elderly. NURSING RESEARCH The present study provides support to the further studies. The study, favours for evidence based practice. The results of this study can disseminate through the conferences, seminars publication in national and international journals. LIMITATIONS Numbers of samples were limited to 30. The study was limited to females. The study was limited to single setting RECOMMENDATIONS A comparative study can be done with control group. A longitudinal study can be done with large sample size. A quasi-experimental study can be done with more types of exercises. ABSTRACT The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of exercise programme on balance score among elderly people. The study was undertaken by RegNo: 301210453 during the year (2013-2014) in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science in nursing at KMCH College of Nursing, Coimbatore. Objectives of the study was to assess the balance scores among old age people in the age group of 60-80 years,determine the effectiveness of exercise programme in improving balance scores among elderly, identify the association between the balance scores with selected demographic and clinical variables. The study was conducted in St. Thomas old age home, at Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore. Conceptual frame work adopted for this study was based on Ernestine, Wiedenbach’s theory (1970). The research design used for this study was one group pretest post test design. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the samples and the sample size of the study was 30. Pretest balance score of the study subjects were collected using a standardized scale (berg balance scale) from elderly in the age group of 60-80 years who were staying in St. Thomas old age home at Ramanathapuram, Coimbatore. Then study subjects were given, the recommended exercise programme and the post test score was done at the end of the intervention. The findings of the study revealed that exerciseprogramme was effective to improve the balance scores among elderly.

Comparison of Kevin Kleins Hamlet, Lawrence Oliviers Hamlet and Mel Gibsons hamlet :: comparison compare contrast essays

Compare/Contrast Kevin Klein's Hamlet, Lawrence Olivier's Hamlet and Mel Gibson's hamlet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is one of the best known pieces of literature around the world, and has fascinated many people from all walks of life, from critics to psychologists.   There has been much speculation to the different interpretations of the play.   Every reader has his or her own views of the play, like which words are emphasized in a speech and what actions the actors are making throughout the play.   Several Hollywood directors have created their own versions of the play, including a soon to be released full length version.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the versions which was brought to the big screen was the Kevin Klein version.   After viewing three different versions of Act 3 Scene 1, this one was my favourite.   When Hamlet and Ophelia meet in the room and begin to talk, they seem as though they where once very much in love, and that their relationship would have blossomed if it wasn't for the recent interference. Their conversation remains about their love for each other and then they kiss. It seems as though after the kiss, Hamlet realizes what might be going on and asks where Polonius is.   Hamlet then realizes that he is in the room and continues his charade of acting mad.   I think that this interpretation is the best one because it reflects my view of this scene as well as what I think Shakespeare's intentions were.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another version was the with Lawrence Olivier.   Compared with the other two, this version didn't quite seem as realistic.   When Hamlet enters them room, it seems like he already knows what's going on, and that Polonius and the King are in the room.   You can tell that he thinks something's up when glances over at the hanging tapestries before he talks with Ophelia.   They don't seem as if they are, or ever were in love.   They don't have any chemistry during their conversation and I think that wasn't what Shakespeare intended.   When Ophelia nervously glances over at her father and the king, Hamlet's suspicions are confirmed.   He then asks where her father is and begins to act mad much like the other version.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The last version that I saw was the most recent interpretation starring Mel Gibson.   Although I liked this version better then the Lawrence Olivier one, I found it to be more awkward then the Kevin Klein interpretation.   When Hamlet and Ophelia begin their conversation, their relationship is present but their love doesn't seem as intense as it was shown in the Kevin Klein version. Comparison of Kevin Klein's Hamlet, Lawrence Olivier's Hamlet and Mel Gibson's hamlet :: comparison compare contrast essays Compare/Contrast Kevin Klein's Hamlet, Lawrence Olivier's Hamlet and Mel Gibson's hamlet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hamlet is one of the best known pieces of literature around the world, and has fascinated many people from all walks of life, from critics to psychologists.   There has been much speculation to the different interpretations of the play.   Every reader has his or her own views of the play, like which words are emphasized in a speech and what actions the actors are making throughout the play.   Several Hollywood directors have created their own versions of the play, including a soon to be released full length version.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the versions which was brought to the big screen was the Kevin Klein version.   After viewing three different versions of Act 3 Scene 1, this one was my favourite.   When Hamlet and Ophelia meet in the room and begin to talk, they seem as though they where once very much in love, and that their relationship would have blossomed if it wasn't for the recent interference. Their conversation remains about their love for each other and then they kiss. It seems as though after the kiss, Hamlet realizes what might be going on and asks where Polonius is.   Hamlet then realizes that he is in the room and continues his charade of acting mad.   I think that this interpretation is the best one because it reflects my view of this scene as well as what I think Shakespeare's intentions were.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another version was the with Lawrence Olivier.   Compared with the other two, this version didn't quite seem as realistic.   When Hamlet enters them room, it seems like he already knows what's going on, and that Polonius and the King are in the room.   You can tell that he thinks something's up when glances over at the hanging tapestries before he talks with Ophelia.   They don't seem as if they are, or ever were in love.   They don't have any chemistry during their conversation and I think that wasn't what Shakespeare intended.   When Ophelia nervously glances over at her father and the king, Hamlet's suspicions are confirmed.   He then asks where her father is and begins to act mad much like the other version.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The last version that I saw was the most recent interpretation starring Mel Gibson.   Although I liked this version better then the Lawrence Olivier one, I found it to be more awkward then the Kevin Klein interpretation.   When Hamlet and Ophelia begin their conversation, their relationship is present but their love doesn't seem as intense as it was shown in the Kevin Klein version.

Documentary Film Analysis Worksheet Essay

Instructions: You will find the list of films you can choose from in the Assignment tab. Go to the list and pick your film. You must view the entire film. If you can’t access films because of deployment, geographic location, or other reasons, please let your instructor know so they can give you an alternate assignment. Please type you answers into this sheet. You must submit the worksheet by uploading the worksheet as a Word document You must answer in complete sentences, using a short answer/paragraph format. Please do not answer in one or two sentences be specific. 2 paragraph minimum (except for #1) 1. What is the title of the film you picked? I chose the film, â€Å"Slavery and the Making of America.† 2. Why did you pick this film over the others offered? I chose this film documentary over the others because I have always wanted to learn more about slavery and how it shaped and effected America. Often we are just told what we read in books or stories that have been passed down about what really went on in this country. Slavery is a big subject and one of if not the biggest tragedies in the history of this country. I wanted to watch this documentary to uncover more truth and facts about the shape of this country during that time. I also liked the descriptions that are specified about the video and what it talks about and will cover. It states that the four part documentary will cover the beginning of slavery from the British colonies which then migrates down south to the north and how it ends. I have always been intrigued by the history of slavery and how it came about and how it was for Africans and African Americans during that time. 3. What is/are the central message(s) of this documentary/fictional film? Be specific. Use examples from the film to support your choice. There are many central messages regarding this documentary. The main messages conveyed in this documentary were resistance amongst the slaves, struggle to maintain dignity, their life styles and culture, their status as workers, knowing their value as a slave, the change of racism, slaves were underestimated about their knowledge and understanding, family was essential and helped them survive and powerful political figures along with American beliefs were major hypocrites. In 1624 the first eleven Africans known as the Atlantic Creole’s were brought via ships by the Dutch West India Company to New Amsterdam (New York today), at this time there were two kinds of workers; slaves and indentured workers(white and black laborers who served for a servant amount of years to get money and become free). Their statuses were confusing and complex however, they were both treated equal and would often retreat to taverns to bond and talk about their masters. The Atlantic Creole’s made the system work for them. They knew how to bargain with their masters to get what they needed and still maintain a fair working lifestyle. The turn of fair treatment towards both races changed in 1640 when three men (two white and one black) decided to flee from their master. They were caught two days later. In court the two whites were to serve a few more years as indentured workers while the black man was sentenced to life as an indentured worker. Slaves maintained their dignity by using the bible, their culture as Africans and family value to get them through. When times got hard they prayed and came together as a community. The treatment of slaves was inhumane, they were beaten, and tortured (branded, men castrated, ears cut off or severed, women raped and exploited) if they were misbehaving. Eventually slaves were beginning to be resistant. They would harm cattle, run away, commit suicide and sometimes revolt towards their masters to receive better treatment. President Thomas Jefferson was considered to be a huge hypocrite along with political powers in America. They wrote documents and petitions stating that all men were created equal. Jefferson claimed he was not big about slavery yet, he owned over 250 slaves and did not free a single one even as President. Slaves were treated like animals and property rather than human beings (3/5th constitution stated that slaves were only 3/5th human and therefore were to be treated as such.) 4. Consider the effectiveness of the film for this history class. What are its strengths and weaknesses of this film in documenting history? This film is strong and very effective with many strengths. It gives a detailed account of slavery and the lives of significant people who helped to abolish slavery. It talks about David Walker and his appeal and what the Appeal did for all blacks and whites fighting for the cause. Later it talks about Maria Stewart (Walker’s prodigy) and how she was the first black women to speak to a mixed audience those of men and women and how the lawsuit she won later would bring about the Emancipation. Other significant role players were Harriet Jacobs who was the first women to write a slave narrative. Her life consisted in the attempts to be free of her master who wanted her for sexual purposes. She fell in love with another white man and produced two children for him. In order for her children to be free she fled to her grandmother’s home who was free and she lived in an enclosed space for the next seven years. Although, her children were free it would be a few more years before she would ever see them again. The only weakness to this documentary I found was that it skipped times periods and went back and forth. It said very little about the Declaration of Independence and what it meant to African Americans. During this time it also does not mention the impact that the Quakers had on blacks. It just mentions that they were there and what they fought for.2 5. How do you think the filmmakers want the audience to respond? Is there a social justice message? If so, what is it? I would say filmmakers would want the audience to have a better appreciation for blacks and what they went through and those that helped fight for racism and anti-slavery movements. I think initially anyone who watches this film would first be ashamed to call the U.S their country but, then after a while realizing that was the country’s way of living and way of life at the time. To think that people were treated like animals and had no rights is an injustice and definitely a contradiction to the American beliefs. The audience may want to re-read the Declaration of Independence and see if its principals are practiced to this day. There is definitely a social justice  message. In the documentary it talks about the first eleven slaves from Africa known as the Atlantic Creole. As time passes they negotiate with their masters to get land, get paid for their labor and even have their children become free after a certain amount of time. The slaves knew their worth and at the time they were able to negotiate because there were no harsh laws at this time. A couple of the men even sued their masters and won for loss of wages. Other examples include resistance and revolts. A big indicator was the Walker Appeal. In the Appeal Walker motivates black slaves to stand up for themselves and roles out argument over the history of slavery. He criticizes Thomas Jefferson and America’s political party for being a contradiction stating they want all men to be treated equally and free except many of them stilled owned slaves and were not freeing them. 6. Did the documentary leave you with any unanswered questions? If so, what were they? The documentary was very informative and very detailed oriented. I would have like to know more about Thomas Jefferson and President Washington. The documentary does not cover President Washington’s role in slavery or how he felt about it and what actions he took. Of course he owned slaves but, did he feel the same as Jefferson? What was he doing at this time for the country in regards to slavery? I also wanted to know what Thomas Jefferson’s role was after the Declaration of Independence took effect. He owned over 250 slaves. I wonder what he was like toward his slaves and how he treated them. If he was against slavery then why did he not free his slaves or why did he wait so long? Why did he not play a bigger role in helping the slaves? 7. How did this film change any misconceptions or stereotypes you had about the subject matter? If so, what were they? Since, I already knew basic facts about slavery I did not have any stereotypes. I will say that I had lack of knowledge with the real life situations that many individuals experienced. For example, the film states the punishments for any slave that runs away. The first punishment they were  whipped. The second punishment they were branded with an R on their right cheek. The third punishment their ear was severed and another R on the left cheek for runaway, and the fourth punishment males were castrated. I had misconceptions about the Presidents. I used to respect the Presidents Jefferson and Lincoln. History says they are some of our founding fathers. To me they were prejudice cowards who had no intention of freeing slaves although, they say they did not believe in slavery. America builds these prominent figures up as if they are heroes. Sure, they developed great causes and did great things (Jefferson with the Declaration of Independence, and Lincoln with the Emancipation Proclama tion) but again this did nothing for slaves. 8. What did you enjoy most about the film? Dislike the most? Be specific. I like that the film was very detailed in the lives of those people who made a difference. The film also stresses how important slavery was and how blacks were portrayed and treated. I was constantly being fed about facts that I definitely did not learn in school history books. Significant unknown people such as a slave called Titus who was very skilled and a smart slave and owned by a short tempered Quaker who would not release him although, a lot of Quakers were freeing their slaves. Titus eventually runs away and comes back years later as a sophisticated colonel of a small army of whites and blacks to fight in various wars and help free his people. Another unknown significant slave was Emanuel Dregas. He was owned by Captain Pot and later Pot owned his family. Once Pot became stricken by poverty he sold Dregas’ family. After Captain Pot died, Dregas later became free but, his family remained enslaved and for the rest of his life he fought to get them freedom. I can honestly there was nothing that I did not like about the film. 9. What is the most important thing you learned from watching the film? The most important thing I learned about this film was the value of African Americans verses slavery and how the first Africans were able to be more free with their decisions and able to negotiate their wages. Again the first  eleven Africans known as the Atlantic Creole in 1624 came by way of ship purchased by the Dutch West Indian Company. As they built the Dutch Colony in New Amsterdam (New York today) there were no laws about slavery and they had no structure. They were just required to work hard for their masters. These slaves began to recognize their worth and realized they were not being paid their value. A few of them sued their slave owners for higher wages. They also began to negotiate with their masters. They made the system work for them. The masters wanted to appease them so that they would continue to work. In turn masters gave their slaves half freedom. This meant men who married could live with their wives on the free Negro land. They could grow their own crops, cattle and they could farm there. Slaves were very valuable. The more slaves that were owned the more land the slave owner received. For example, one slave equaled five acres of land. Cotton was the biggest product since tobacco and was in high demand throughout the world specifically Europe. Thousands of slaves were requested and then shipped from West Africa to complete these slave picking tasks. It was a nonstop twenty-four seven job. Slaves worked from sunrise till sundown. If it was a full moon they worked through the night as well. 10. Why is this film important to understanding contemporary African American History? This film is important to understanding contemporary African American History, because of the details it covers of slavery, the people and a nation it effected and how these people survived such a harsh, cruel and demanding life style. Africans and African Americans struggled yet their religious beliefs, love for family and will to live and eventually fighting back got them through. This is seen in the attempted Nat Turner revolt, Walker Appeal pamphlet, the slave narrative by Harriet Jacobs and Maria Stewart. Each of these individuals fought for a cause that they did not see or experience in their lifetime but, knew that it would come in the following generations. These individuals had guts and wanted to tell the truth. David Walker exploits American beliefs in his Appeal when he talks President Thomas Jefferson being a hypocrite and how he wants all men to be created equally yet he owns slaves and would not free them. America was turned upside down due to the attitude of slavery. The nation was becoming a separate society. It was the North and West vs the South. While the North and West had abolished slavery the South was nowhere near that or wanted anything to do with it. Economic power became political power. Those that had prospered or came from money were running for the senate, government and even for presidency. Based upon this alone Africans, African Americans and various indentured workers built this country and assisted the country in making it an economic powerhouse.

Free Essays on Gender Selection

Sociology Research Paper I approached this paper in a much different way then any other paper I have ever written. The topic that I have chosen is sex selection and since this topic is so new I felt that every resource was very unique and had a lot to offer. That is why I have chosen to write this paper in order of the resources I have found. I hope that you do not mind. Technology nowadays is phenomenal. There is so much that technology is now able to do, and there is also a lot of competition out there concerning technology. With the technology today there truly is no limit to what someone can do. Technology has become so advanced that couples can now even decide what sex they want their child to be. Sex selection is an unbelievably expensive and quite silly process. I would think that as long as a couple has a healthy baby that they would be happy, but not any more. Couples want it all and now they are capable of doing just that. Sex selection has always been around but not the way it is today. Accurately selecting the sex of ones child has been a goal of many cultures since man has been on earth. Some superstition has created many outrageous practices for the reproduction of a child of a desired sex at the time of conception. Recommendations for having males include, having sex in dry weather when the moon is full, the nut harvest is plentiful, and there is a north wind. Many parents throughout history have resorted to selective abortion and infanticide, to guarantee them the sex of their children. With more recent advances in technology couple have more assistance with an accurate method of selecting the sex of their child before conception. At this time there are two methods that provide the best results for sex selection, they are pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos and sperm-sorting through flow cytometry. The ethical and legal dilemmas presented with pre... Free Essays on Gender Selection Free Essays on Gender Selection Sociology Research Paper I approached this paper in a much different way then any other paper I have ever written. The topic that I have chosen is sex selection and since this topic is so new I felt that every resource was very unique and had a lot to offer. That is why I have chosen to write this paper in order of the resources I have found. I hope that you do not mind. Technology nowadays is phenomenal. There is so much that technology is now able to do, and there is also a lot of competition out there concerning technology. With the technology today there truly is no limit to what someone can do. Technology has become so advanced that couples can now even decide what sex they want their child to be. Sex selection is an unbelievably expensive and quite silly process. I would think that as long as a couple has a healthy baby that they would be happy, but not any more. Couples want it all and now they are capable of doing just that. Sex selection has always been around but not the way it is today. Accurately selecting the sex of ones child has been a goal of many cultures since man has been on earth. Some superstition has created many outrageous practices for the reproduction of a child of a desired sex at the time of conception. Recommendations for having males include, having sex in dry weather when the moon is full, the nut harvest is plentiful, and there is a north wind. Many parents throughout history have resorted to selective abortion and infanticide, to guarantee them the sex of their children. With more recent advances in technology couple have more assistance with an accurate method of selecting the sex of their child before conception. At this time there are two methods that provide the best results for sex selection, they are pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of embryos and sperm-sorting through flow cytometry. The ethical and legal dilemmas presented with pre...

What Are AP Classes Why Should You Take Them

What Are AP Classes Why Should You Take Them SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve started high school recently, or if you're due to start soon, you might be wondering, "What are AP classes?" You might have heard that they are extra-advanced or that you can get college credit from them. But how does it work? If you’ve been wondering what AP tests are and how they can help you, read on for our guide to AP courses and learn how they can get you ahead. What Is Advanced Placement? Advanced Placement is a program run by the College Board (the makers of the SAT) that allows you to take courses at your high school, which can earn you college credit and/or qualify you for more advanced classes when you begin college. So what are AP courses? They are designed to give you the experience of an intro-level college class while you’re still in high school. Plus, you can get college credit for the class if you pass the AP exam. AP classes were created in the mid-1950s as a response to the widening gap between secondary school (high school) and college. A pilot program in 1952 had 11 subjects, butAP didn’t officially launch until the 1956 school year,when the College Board took over the program and named it the College Board Advanced Placement Program. The program expanded rapidly over the years.These days,about 2.7 million students take AP exams every year in 38 subjects.It’s also much more common for students to take multiple AP classes over the course of their high school careers. Well, the content of an intro-level college class ... you won't sit in a lecture hall like this until college! But what exactly are AP exams?An AP exam isbasically a test of all you learn in an AP class. You earn college credit if you pass the examgiven at the end of the year in May. (AP tests are scored between 1 and 5, with anything above 3 considered passing.) While it's possible to skip the AP class and study for an AP exam independently, it's strongly recommended that you take the class.AP classes are specifically designed to help students prepare for the AP exams. Taking an AP course and passing the test is a sign that you're capable of handling college-level work, which will strengthen your college applications immensely. Want to get a perfect 5 on your AP exam and an A in class? We can help. PrepScholar Tutors is the world's best tutoring service. We combine world-class expert tutors with our proprietary teaching techniques. Our students have gotten A's on thousands of classes, perfect 5's on AP tests, and ludicrously high SAT Subject Test scores. Whether you need help with science, math, English, social science, or more, we've got you covered. Get better grades today with PrepScholar Tutors. Why Take AP Classes? 3 Key Benefits Now that you know what AP classes are, why should you consider taking them? Below, we give you three potential benefits of taking AP classes. #1: They Can Boost Your College Applications Taking an AP class (or several!) is a great way to challenge yourself academically and show colleges that you're serious about your education. An AP class on your transcript signals stronger academic training, especially with high passing scores of 4 and 5 on the test. In particular, getting a 5 on an AP test shows that you are more advanced in a subject than 80-90% of advanced students- which looks very impressive to colleges! Since AP courses are challenging and require you to study for a comprehensive exam, they teach you skills that will help you in college classes. According to the College Board, students who take AP exams get higher grades in college than those with similar grades who don’t take AP exams. You basically get a head start in college. Many colleges say thatthey look to see if you took the hardest courses available to you at your school.Taking AP classes is often the best way to show that you are challenging yourself academically at your high school. For example, Yale says on their admissions website, "Weonly expect you to take advantage of [AP] courses if your high school provides them.† In other words, if your school has AP courses and you don’t take them, it might look as though you aren't challenging yourself. To take a West Coast example, USC is more straightforward: â€Å"Students should pursue Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes whenever possible and if offered by high school.† Getting a high passing score of 4 or 5 further demonstrates your academic potential to colleges.(By the way, if you're curious about a college's suggested high school course load, look up its admissions website by searching "[School Name] admissions requirements.") #2: They Can Show Your Passion Taking AP exams is also a way to demonstrate real academic interest in a certain subject. For example,if you’re an aspiring engineer, taking the AP Calculus and AP Physics courses and passing the exams will prove to college admissions committees that you're serious about engineering and have the skills necessary to pursue it. On the other hand, if you're interested in political science or pre-law tracks, taking AP US History, AP US Government, AP Statistics, and/or AP Economics would show strong preparation for those subjects. Or ifyou’re hoping to be pre-med,taking AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and/or AP Calculus would indicate that you have the skills and background needed to handle tough pre-med classes as a college student. #3: They Can Get You College Credit Some colleges give credit for AP classes. This makes it possible to graduate from college in a far shorter amount of time, ultimately saving you money! For example,Harvard lets you apply for Advanced Standing if you've completed the equivalent of a year of college courses with AP exams. The University of Michigan, too,grants new students course credit and higher class placements for AP exams. However, some colleges use scores to help place students in higher-level classes but don't allow these credits to fulfill graduation requirements, so you can't graduate any earlier. Similarly, other schools might let you earn college credit but are limiting about which AP exams they accept. As an example, Stanford University accepts AP credit from many science, language, and math AP courses, but not any from history or English courses. Washington University in St. Louis will grant some credit for AP tests but doesn't allow you to use these credits to meet general education requirements: "A maximum of 15 units of prematriculation credit may be counted toward any undergraduate degree. These units will count toward graduation, but will not meet general education requirements." Despite all this, getting the boost into more advanced classes can help you work through a major more quickly and let you take more advanced and more interesting courses as a freshman. Even if you don't earn credit for your AP scores, AP classes can still get you ahead. If you’re curious about a college’s AP policy, the College Board has a database you can use to look up any school's policy. The fewer years college takes, the less you have to spend! How to Sign Up for AP Classes and Tests You can sign up for an AP course through your normal high school registration process. Keep in mind that some schools have prerequisite courses you have to take before you can sign up for an AP class. Track down your guidance counselor if you have any questions about this! You'll also sign up for AP tests through your school, which will havea designated AP coordinator (often a guidance counselor) to help with the process. If you’re home-schooled or want to take an AP test for a class your school doesn’t offer,contact your local school’s AP coordinator. AP tests cost $94 each.Some schools offer subsidies, and the College Board has financial aidin the form of a $32 fee reduction. Remember that if you pass the AP exam, you can exchange your score for college credit once you get to college. So even though that $94 fee is steep, it’s a bargain compared with the cost of taking that same class for a semester in college! What’s Next? Now that you now about AP classes, which ones should you take? Check out our comprehensive list of AP exams and guide. Also,learn about how long AP tests are and how to deal with testing fatigue. Also studying for the SAT? Learn how to boost your Reading, Math, and Writing scores, and get some essentialtips for the Essay. Studying for the ACT instead? Check out our ultimate ACT study guide,and get expert tips on how to write a great essay for the Writing section. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Sexually Transmitted Disease Brochure Assignment

Sexually Transmitted Disease Brochure - Assignment Example Syphilis cannot be transmitted through physical contact with eating utensils, shared clothing, bathtubs, swimming pools or toilet seats. Primary stage: This is the first stage of the disease may be characterized by single or multiple sores that are painless, round and firm in nature. The sores resemble the point of entry of the disease. Secondary stage: One may have oral, anal or vaginal sores and skin rashes at the same time. This stage begins with with one or many rashes on the body. These rashes may appear several weeks after the primary sore is healed. The rash may appear as rough, red spots on the bottom of the feet or the palm of the hands. This does not necessarily itch and thus may go unnoticed. This may present together with other symptoms such as swollen lymph nodes, fever, patchy hair loss, weight loss, sore throat, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Symptoms may disappear regardless of treatment or not. The infection will proceed to the latent stage without the right treatment. Latent stages: The latent stage starts when the early signs and symptoms disappear. Without the right treatment one may continue to harbor the syphilis bacterium in their body for years without showing any signs and symptoms. Most individuals with untreated syphilis do not go to the late stage of the disease. However, when they proceed to the late stage, the disease is very serious. Late stages: This may present after 10 to 30 years from the initial day of infection. The symptoms are severe and include paralysis, numbness, blindness, dementia and difficulty coordinating muscle movements. The disease may damage internal organs and may result in death. Pathology of syphilis: The bacterium responsible for syphilis is called Treponema pallidum. For the transmission to take place there almost needs to be direct contact with the infectious sore. The bacterium quickly penetrates the

Vice advertising - cont Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Vice advertising - cont - Essay Example This paper analyses the problems associated with unhealthy advertising to children and teens and proposes certain solutions to avoid it. Tobacco companies exploit the hero-worshipping attitudes of younger generation cleverly with the help of beautiful ads and children and teens become the victims of such misleading ads. Smoking often causes lung cancer, heart diseases, asthma, cough etc. Instead of revealing these health problems of smoking, tobacco companies in their advertisements describe smoking as a pleasant act which gives immense satisfaction and pleasure to the smoker. Majority of the tobacco companies have celebrities as their brand ambassador. For example, tobacco companies often utilize film stars for advertising their cigarettes. The mannerisms and the body languages of the film stars in the tobacco advertisements will encourage the hero-worshipping teen generation to imitate their heartthrobs blindly. Children and teens have the inherited trait to imitate others. They learn life lessons from parents, teachers and celebrities. They are not much aware of the consequences of smoking. Only thing they know is that their hero is smoking and therefore they can also smoke. Thank You for Smoking is a 2005 comedy film which portrays the efforts of a person to promote cigarettes using heavy spin tactics while also trying to remain a role model in front of his child (Thank You for Smoking). People usually demonstrate many faces in their social, personal, family and professional lives. A loyal husband in personal life need not be the same in his social life. Same way, a good parent in family life need not be the same in his professional life. People usually forced to do many things even though they are not much interested in it. Circumstances force people to engage in unpleasant behaviors. For example, even nonsmoking film stars forced to act like a smoker in many films. This is because