Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Analyse and comment on the success Essay Example for Free

Analyse and description on the success EssayAnalyse and comment on the success of the gloss sequence of Baz Luhrmanns 1997 film adaptation of Romeo JulietThe 1997 adaptation of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet by Baz Luhrmann was attempting to reach out to a younger audience by youthfulising the doddery play with new ideas, even though the old text was kept. Set in modern times with modern things that a young audience could tie in to, Luhrmann successfully hauled Shakespeares text from 16th century Verona, Italy to late 20th century Miami, USA. The purpose of this essay is to review, analyse and comment on the use of Luhrmanns background to servicing him in making the photographic film, the success of the film but most distinguishedly the cinematic success of the title scene.The location was specifically chosen to represent modern times. America was the most modern country available. Although Luhrmann wanted to shoot the film in Miami, it was seen by the mayor of Miami as unrealistic to sick the city on hold while they shot the scene Mexicos capital city, Mexico City was used instead. It had everything the crew needed, it had a typical city milieu it was perfect.As the movie was press release to be originally set in Miami, the characters had to at least look like they were from Miami. The Montague household wore very casual Hawaiian t-shirts, which were not buttoned up but hung loosely on the wearer. The Capulets wore very serious, cool clothes, mostly dark colours like black and grey. The choices of clothes used were to symbolise gangsters and mob mentality. from antiquated grudge break to new mutiny were being portrayed by Luhrmann, as two rival gangs.Casting was very much a unsound thing in Luhrmanns version. He had to pick actors that young people could relate to. It was hard finding such actors, as the young and popular ones had problems reading Shakespeares several(a) and complicated old English text. Luhrmann knew that Leonardo Di Caprio would be perfect for Romeo, as he was a heartthrob worldwide, and would bring in the young girls, who adored him.Throughout the movie we are shown images of power. These images are more abundant in the porta title scene. Images of guns, violence and police are shown to create an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. The guns are used, again to create a modernised version of the old play. The guns represent the swords used by the people in the sixteenth century, and they are referred to as swords by the actors, put up thy swords.Religion is one of the main themes in the play, and Luhrmann uses many powerful images to show this in the opening title scene. Two statues of Jesus are film round about either side of the city. The statues are opposite each other with their faces facing inwards, as if looking over the people of Verona and keeping guard. too the Christian crucifix is used to replace some of the Ts in the scripture which occasionally flash between the montage of images of polic e, violent riots and arrests the scripture is repeating the important parts of the sonnet that opens the play.Cinematography is used to great effect in the opening scene. Zooming and panning left and right all help to create the effect of unhealthiness and chaos. Before the title of the movie is actually shown there is a montage of images each clip lasts only for a split second. Each clip is interpreted from the movie to show the audience that it isnt an old fashioned soppy love story, but a violent, tragic blockbuster. Using the scenes of gun fights and violence the montage really creates an adrenalin rush.The music and the backing track for the title scene really goes with the visual picture on the screen. Fast tempo gets the blood pumping and again it helps to pee chaos. It has real power as it builds up towards the end of the title scene during the montage of images it speeds up and the power of it envelops you. Then finally we see the title of the movie and the music stops af ter a few seconds after the title falls into view and the audience is left in silence.In conclusion, considering all the areas of the title scene, Baz Luhrmann has successfully given birth to a fantastic opening to Romeo and Juliet. The title scene underlines key aspects of the sonnet which opens the play, to help the people in the audience who dont understand Shakespeare and even the ones who do. He introduces the principle characters, again to stop the audience from getting confused. The use of exciting images, such as the gun and the images of police and violence makes trusted people in the audience stay and not walk out because they may believe it to be boring many teenagers would believe Shakespeare to be boring. The opening scene had a very strong effect on me personally. It really made me want to see the movie again, even though I had already seen it about three times. The scene gripped me and not many title scenes have done that to me. Baz Luhrmanns version of Romeo and Ju liet was a complete success.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Colourism In The 21st Century Cultural Studies Essay

Colourism In The 21st Century Cultural Studies EssayEven though the precondition distortism, otherwise cognise as shadeism, has gained popularity in recent years, the concept is deeply rooted in the colonial daylights of thraldom. Defined as a make ofprejudice ordiscriminationin which persons argon treated differently establish on the complaisant meanings attached to discase color, this light pelt versus no-count grate issue has had a damaging effect on the psyche of young dispirited Jamaicans today. However, according to Cedric Herring colourism operates in two different ship canal interracially and intraracially. Interracial colourism occurs when members of angiotensin converting enzyme racial convention make distinctions based upon flake color in the midst of members of a nonher racial group. Intraracial colourism occurs when members of a racial group make distinctions based upon peel color between members of their own race (3). While I willing be analysing both f orms of colourism, the focus of this thesis will be on intraracial colourism, specifi adverty at bottom the Jamaican community.After the abolition of sla rattling in Jamaica, the immersion of a middle and decline affiliate was organised into the hierarchical structure of Jamaica that previously just claimed bloodlesss as the elite. As a result, due to the preferential treat handst that was awarded to mulattoes-a treatwork forcet that allowed them to postulate an education-, they became the ruling middle clear up with the then former caustic slaves turned peasants as the lower class. To make events worse, the historical and stereotypical depiction of Africans as ugly, stupid and uncivilized and Europeans as pretty, smart and superior only served to brainwash black Jamaicans into thinking that they are the inferior race. Thus, the tendency to perceive or be oblige toward members of a racial category based on the lightness or darkness of their skin tone has resulted in, not only the segregation of a people within a specific heathenish group, but it has also created, amongst the African Diaspora of Jamaica, radical methods through which the they will do anything to attain as many an(prenominal) refined European attributes as possible.According to William Lynchs earn The Making of a Slave, his secret to controlling slaves is by pitting them against each other, by exploiting differences such as age and skin color that would, after many time, sow dissension amongst them, one that would last for many years to come. While there has been extensive research and academia founded on the topic of racism within the West Indian context during the colonial period, only a few fool examined intraracial skin color hierarchies amongst the black race and even less amongst the African Diaspora of Jamaica in the 21st century. It is therefore, the purpose of this interpret to project how stereotypes and perceptions virtually light and dark skin signify an inheri tance of similar attitudes docu handsted in former generations of black Jamaicans, which in turn, sheds light on the ever-present discrimination that continues takes place on a day to day basis in their lives.It is my hope that this study will address the followingDemonstrate the link of Jamaicas colonial past to colourism todayShow the medias role toward gustation and how it has affected black JamaicansExplain the extreme measures taken in order to be brownMany historians (Henriques 1953 Norris 1962) have ac acquaintanced the fact that slavery has had adverse psychological cause on Africans (Danieli 394), in particular those of a darker complexion. As such, the preferential treatment that was awarded to mulatto slaves (James and Harris 234) has been able to transcend years of black empowerment movements in such a authority that it is clearly patent in Jamaicas society today through colourism (Herring 3). According to Carolyn Cooper, the remnants of Jamaicas colonial past are ever present in the favorable interactions of its people today, no press the context. Her argument is further supported by Deborah Gabriel (28) who has studied race relations among Jamaicans and attests to the fact that colour prejudice is visible in the societys socio-economic environment.Moreover, Antonio Gramscis cultural hegemony theory, which is explored in the kit and boodle of Boggs (39), Gail Dines and Jean M. Humez (62), adds another dimension to the compend of colourism by stating that the superimposition of one culture over another negatively affects their already established kind structure. It is common knowledge therefore that the white mentationl- through which all analyses of colourism is based- expresses the view that blacks are the inferior race and whites, the superior (Kardiner et. al 315). Even Fanons psychoanalytical theory of racism and the dehumanization of African slaves in the colonial epoch support the composition that white supremacy has led black p eople to develop an low quality complex. Yet, despite the call for black unity among the African race advocated by numerous social and political groups such as the Pan-African movements and Rastafarianism (Caravantes 2003), there are still messages being familial that stipulate that light skin people are better than their darker counterparts.Carl Boggs lends aid to this belief through his analysis in the role of mainstream media. His study shows how the elite in society have been able to perpetuate the political orientation that whites are the superior race (39). On the other hand, however, Margaret Andersen and Howard Taylor examine the way in which light skin black people are depicted as elite in their own right when compared to their darker counterparts (53). Consequently, the association between white people and light skin people as more(prenominal) intelligent, more beautiful and more civilized can be found numerous media outlets in Jamaica. To add to that theory is the analy sis of Buju Bantons song revere me browning by Patricia Mohammed who stated that his song has reinforced and reflected the head that men value the colour of light skin in women in Jamaica (35).This preference has led to the exacerbation of black womens self-esteem who now take it upon themselves to bleach their skin in an attempt to seem more desirable. According to Natasha Barnes, not only is skin colour utilize as a handicap to gain social access, it is also seen as a form of economic mobility and stableness among the light skin people of Jamaica (*). Therefore, it isnt necessary that black people work as hard as they do to move up the socio-economic ladder because correctly line of reasoning qualifications are not more valuable than the colour of ones skin (Miller, ).However, after having researched the subject for this thesis project, I found that there was an abundance of info based on African American experiences along with the numerous studies which have proven that peo ple with darker skin are subjugated to more prejudice than their igniter skinned counterparts. In fact, very little of the information found related to the theme of colourism as a system of language, internal scripts and external practices that govern the commonplace interactions and experiences of young black men and women as it relates to skin tone1in the contemporary society of Jamaica.While I do agree with many historian sociologists, such as Fernando Henriques and Katrin Norris, who have cotton uped the topic of skin politics in Jamaica, I intend to go further by examining the phenomenon of colourism as it relates to present day interactions and experiences. By examining the historical and contemporary significance of skin color, it will be proven that discrimination based on skin color is a present reality that will assume increasing significance in the future as current understandings of race and racial classifications disintegrate.Furthermore, for the purpose of this thesi s I have taken the liberty of looking at numerous primary and secondary sources, such as those written by Marcus Garvey, Dr. Eric Williams, Francis O.C, Anthony Richmond, and David Lowenthal. They have all have disposed(p) me great insight into historical context of race relations during the colonial period and how black people reacted to this unjust treatment through the various black power movements, peculiarly those executed by Rastafarians.On the other hand, however, due to the fact that this thesis is based on race relations within a specific social group in contemporary Jamaica, many of the research executed had to be done via questionnaires and face to face group discussions with Jamaican men and women. As a result, their results have allowed me to fill in the information that was lacking in the secondary sources. Through the use of questionnaires, I was able to target earreach of ten people in an efficient amount of time. Nevertheless, as with all data collection, some o f opinions expressed warranted a deeper analysis of the subject at hand. Consequently, I resorted to focus groups of r people and individual interviews so that greater insight would be given as to why people had certain opinions to know how they position or felt about this topic, as it is a term that is rarely apply in public spheres, and even less so in semiprivate ones.To conclude, this research speaks to the gaps in empirical research and theoretical conceptualizations of colourism by providing an in-depth exploration of skin tone bias and discrimination among African Jamaicans. Additionally, it seeks to develop a unveiling for a theoretical framework that captures the key features of colourism in the 21st century. As such, an examination of race relations will show whether or not there is a preference for lightness skin in Jamaica, and if so the extent to which one would go to achieve features that approximate a Caucasian appearance.The origins of colourismThe whites claim superiority, as is done all over the world, and, unlike other parts, the coloured, who ancestrally are the illegitimate off-springs of black and white, claim a positive superiority over the blacks. They train themselves to accept that in the slightest shade the coloured man is above the black man and so it runs right up to white-Marcus Garvey ()Colourism exists everywhere in the African Diaspora where slavery or colonization brought with it the imposition of western ideology and white supremacy, (Gabriel, 25). Approximately six hundred thousand Africans came to Jamaica from the fasten of Biafra, the Gold Coast, West Central Africa and the Bight of Benin between 1533 and 1807 (http//www.nlj.gov.jm/NLJ/files/u1/slave_trade_bibliography.pdf, 15/03/2013) to work as slaves on the sugar cane plantation. Upon their arrival, European plantation owners established themselves as superior based on a paradigm through which Africans were biologically and legally inferior because of their skin colour and as such they were forced to endure hard fag out. This racist social system, known as white supremacy, resulted in Negro subordination through white domination. However, with the start of miscegenation between white slave owners and African slaves- through rape- a saucily racial group was created which in turn created a new paradigm. it was widely held that slaves of colour should not be employed in field labour and that they should be given preference in the training of tradesman, the flower of the slave population. (Higman, 189).Mulatto children, although most of them were not freed, they were considered better than the black population because of their close proximity to the whites. As a result, they were offered an education, an opportunity through which they held an even greater advantage over the African slaves. Thus, when the sugar plantations experienced a decline in revenue and plantation owners were sinking into debt, some of them left hand Jamaica, retuning to live in England off the money they had earned through the hard labor of the Africans. This movement off the island by the whites left a void in the social hierarchy, which mulattos came to fill (Gabriel, 27). Consequently, gradations in skin colour through social stratification allowed these mulatto men and women to assume a high status, socially and economically, according to the lightness of their skin tone.This hierarchical structure persisted even after the complete emancipation of slavery in 1838 with the introduction of freed slaves as lower class, mulattoes as middle class and whites as the elite.Yet, even after more than 200 hundred years of freedom, the idea that a persons destiny is predetermined by their skin tone proves that this historical continuum still exists. Colourism is so deeply embedded in the structure and organization of Caribbean societies that people identify themselves and form relationships according to the standards utilize by the white British (Flyn n, 2011). While the 21st century has seen many changes with regards to race discrimination, interpersonal and intrapersonal colourism continues its reigns in Jamaican society. This is ever present in the social interactions among young adults and children who experience discrimination because they are too dark or preference because they are light skin. A standard that is further highlighted by a 22 year old male interviewee who recounted a particular situation in high school where a girl told him outright that she would not get out him because he was too dark.because internalized racism is so firmly entrenched in the consciousness of black people, they are often unaware that they have a colour complex (Gabriel, 22). Browning, which replaces terms like mulatto, terceroon, quadroon, mustee, musteefino used in the colonial period is a fabled exalted of female beauty and male power in Jamaica society the just right mix of white and black (http//jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120122/foc us/focus5.html, 12/03/2013). However, this term browning also withers the person being referred to as a mere object, a trophy, a prized possession they are only seen for the colour of their skin and the socio-economic status attached to their nearness to European characteristics and distance from the African (Henriques, *). As a result, many men and women in Jamaica today are obsessed with trying to attain this ideal because they see it as a sign of upwards mobility from their destitute stations. Therefore, while it is totally understandable that each person is entitled to their preference, the fact remains that this preference is based on a premise which reinforces the idea that black is undesirable and light skin is ideal.This train of thought is in keeping with the social stratification theory that has been interwoven in the socio-historical tapestry of Jamaica. For a mother to insist that her daughter, black or coloured, gone to buckra master house, gone live so that she gone lift de colour was seen as a sign of felicitate during the days of slavery (Henriques,*). Even now, there are parents who prefer their sons and daughters marry white (Norris, *) because they see it as a chance for their children to move upward in a society that acknowledges and propels the worth of the white bias. Consequently, these children have grown up with the idea that a dark skin tone limits ones chances to a better look and a lighter complexion is the pathway to success. An ideology that is further cemented by the responses given to a survey conducted on this theme of colourism, more specifically preference for lighter skin in Jamaica, through which the majority of respondents despite age, social class and education believe that if one is fairer in complexion, they are automatically offered more opportunities.Likewise is the case for young adults transitioning from school life to independent status by entering the workforce. I am not surprised that certain employers reque st light-skinned individuals for recruitmentAppearances do matter in recruitment, and generally speaking, Jamaicans are unable to see the beauty in a man or char of African descent (http//jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110914/letters/letters1.html, 12/03/2013). Explicit discrimination in the hiring process of many firms is a cause for concern within the Jamaican job market. Historically, darker men and women were not allowed to work in banks, government offices or at the front desk of private businesses until the 1960s (Gabriel, 33). Yet, even though change has been fought for by many involved in the Pan-African and Rastafarian movement, the existence of companies that openly state that they insufficiency light skin applicants does nothing for the advancement of a country whose motto recites disclose of many, One people.The Acquired Anti-Own Race Syndrome created by Clinton Hutton, a lecturer in political philosophy and culture at the University of the West Indies, Mona refers to the the philosophy and psychology of assumed European world cultural superiority expressed by African peoples in their relations with each other and in perceiving and operating in the world (Hutton, ). Consequently, this ideology expresses the views that both socially and economically, Jamaicans have used the predetermined white supremacy standards to interact with each other. With this in mind, it is no wonder why dark skin Jamaicans think it necessary to try to elevate themselves out of their situations. They are measured by unrealistic cultures designed to keep them at the bottom of hierarchical structure and they will remain there if the damaged psyche of those who reinforce these ideals dont change. If not, black Jamaicans will never truly be able to gain access to by rights jobs based on merit alone as light skin far outweighs education and training skills (Miller, 3164).***Many sociologists have argued that the mass media promote differentiate definitions of who people are and what they can be (Andersen and Taylor, 53). For centuries the media has influenced and propagated the ideal body image for men and women across the globe, which in turn affects their personality, how they interact with one another and their health (Lubkin, 197). Even long before the advent of technological advances the global population has been exposed to paintings of idyllic body images as can be seen in the whole shebang of Rubens, Renoir and Raphael who influenced cultural standards for the ultimate body type in their respective eras (Kirsh, 126). As such, one shouldnt be surprised by the outright and even subliminal messages (Jackson, 350) intercommunicate to the masses that stipulate what is beautiful and what is not. Televisions, magazines, euphony and more notably in contemporary societies, the internet, have transmitted these idealistic images that would later epitomize an era. Intrinsically, it is these major multibillion-dollar media abstruse companies that conc entrate their control on what is assimilated on a day to day basis. Their promotion on what is culturally acceptable has had an explosive effect on the way people think about themselves and about others.According to Italian communist Antonio Gramscis theory on cultural hegemony- through which he broadens the materialist Marxist theory- the ruling class within a culturally diverse society superimposes its values, whether social, economical, political or religious, upon the lower classes, who in turn buy into the status quo operating against their established social structure (Dines and Humez, 62). This dominance of one class or group over another can be used to explain the way in which media is used as a tool by the elites to perpetuate their power, wealth and status by popularizing their own philosophy, culture and morality (Boggs, 39). As a result, through analysis of the archives of all forms of media leading up to the 21st century, one can easily stipulate that European features and fair skin are more pervasive- no matter the race-, youth is more accepted and beauty is whatever and whomever can approximate to both these ideals. A correlation can then be made between media and the black ugliness/white beauty binary of imperialism and slavery that has spawned a racialized beauty empire (Rodrguez, Boatc, Costa, 196). And it is this correlation that highlights the conditions under which black people must coiffe in order to be successful the same correlation that stipulates black beauty in the 21st century is a paradox.Marcus Garvey advocated for discolour Nationalism whereby he encouraged African people to be proud of their race and see the beauty in their own kind (Caravantes, 2003). This movement de-centered white beautys iconicity through anti colonialist aesthetics focused on natural hair and black self-love so as to redefine pitch blackness through positive valuation (Rodrguez, Boatc, Costa, 198). In collaboration with Rastafarianism, these Pan-African ism Movements promoted ideologies like black is beautiful and Im black and Im proud, however, when mainstream media daily bombards the population with images that say otherwise, what is this country Out of many, one people supposed to believe? The idea that political, social and economical institutions have bought into this perception of superiority/inferiority within the African race only serves to reinforce this long standing belief.Advertising agencies have projected this standard at all levels in the Jamaican society. According to Carolyn Cooper, colourism can be found even at tertiary level education. It is the faces of lighter skin males and female students that are used to advertise the institutions at an international level, whereas the darker students were found in the local yellow pages. She further explains another situation in which family oriented advertisements display images of a dark skin father and light skin mother with a dark skin son and light skin daughter. Soci al ads also show the same thing. They big-up all the light skin girls them. Yuh cant leave yuh house without seein them brownins on billboards, in the news, on party flyers, in magazines. They dominate the industry, says a 23 year old cocoa coloured female interviewee who resides in Trinidad pursuing her bachelors degree at the University of the West Indies. The idea that men are not as affected by skin colour, hair texture and facial features as their female counterparts, demonstrates their social and economical mobility in a patriarchal society despite the colour of their skin. As a result, it is only the representations of dark-skinned African women as those who are not ideal that is subliminally and openly transmitted.Indubitably, when one references Jamaican media, its music is highly influential, beginning with the famous Bob Marley, who put Jamaica on the map musically, with songs that referenced peace and black unity. However, when Buju Banton came out with his song Love me browning in 1992, consisting of the following lyrics Me love me car, me love me bike, me love me money and ting but most of all me love me browning, it caused an uproar within the Jamaican society who accused him of denigrating the image of black women by promoting a colonial mindset (Mohammad, 35). Yet, even though he sang Love Black woman within that same year as a response to all the negative comments he was receiving, it didnt hide the fact that he was expressing the views of many Jamaican men who had a penchant for lighter-skinned women.Likewise in contemporary Jamaica, with the popularity of skin bleaching in songs from Vybz Kartel, who has also bleached his skin colour because he wanted to show off his tattoos ()*, Jamaicans are bombarded with the views that having a lighter complexion is the way to go. Music videos use women that are fairer in complexion when the song is about love and for dancehall music the predominantly darker skinned women are used to gyrate. Objectified as a sexual creature a darker woman isnt seen as someone a man would want to build a life with because she is considered only within a sexual context. While there have been some transitions in music where dark skin women are used with terms of endearment, the majority of the popular music videos shown still illustrate the European influenced cookie cutter image of women to sell their songs.The media is all about selling goods and selling fantasies is one of their products. It presents men with the ideal woman and vice versa. As such, lighter complexioned men and women, as depicted in all forms of media, are seen as trophies. According to Natasha Barnes, skin colour still serves as a handicap in access to good service, securing decent jobs, housing and other social amenities (Barnes, 286). Thus, a higher complexioned woman is seen as the symbol of a mans success whereas the man is seen as a way out of poverty and an heyday of social status for women. As such, the following statemen t given by a 20 year old anonymous female in response to a question about social interactions in Jamaica and the perceptions men and women have of each other, will clearly provide insight into the minds of young African men and women of contemporary Jamaica If you have a light skin man in Jamaica, especially if you come from inner city Jamaica, is like you have gold. Youre introduced to a new world, you meet new people, have more opportunities because his world is completely different to your own.You cant force anyone to think black is beautiful when the evidence around them testifies to the contrary. And which of our leading are going from a rich mahogany to a high yellow shade? The poor can only afford bleaching creams, but the comfy have other means (http//jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120226/news/news4.html, 25/01/2013) With particular attention to the Jamaican government ministers and officials, one sees that darker hued representatives are a minority. While it is not the cra ck of these officials to possess the education necessary that would allow them the chance to enter into such high esteemed positions the questions remain Were they offered more opportunities due to their skin complexion? With such a high percentage of those who were given questionnaires saying Yes (82%) a lighter skin hue does open more doors for you, doubt still lingers. However, when newspaper ads highlight the fact that there are still proprietors requesting that trainees be brown or light-skinned as a prerequisite for employment in their firms (http//jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110911/lead/lead1.html , 02/02/2013) it supports the idea that discrimination persists to this day. Certainly, the government has spoken out against any form of skin prejudice and promised to take action, even urging people to boycott businesses lacking black faces, but few express confidence that the culprits will ever be named, (http//www.ipsnews.net/2011/09/jamaica-wanted-light-skinned-only-please/, 02/02/2013).A Darker Shade of PaleWeighing about 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) on fairish and covering some 22 square feet (2 square meters), the human skin is the largest organ of the body, composed of a complex system of cell layers, nerves and glands that not only protects them from but also connects them to the outside world. However, what makes an African persons skin colour different to that of a white person, is the amount of melanin ca-cad in the epidermis. As such, darker-skinned people produce more numerous and deeper-colored melanin particles than their fairer-skinned counterparts, which in turn acts as a benefit since they dont need as much bone-strengthening vitamin D, produced through exposure to UV rays(http//science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-and-human-body/human-body/skin-article/, 09/03/2013). flake off bleaching, also known as skin lightening or skin whitening, on the other hand, refers to the practice of using chemical substances in an attempt to reduce t he prominence of skin discolorations and even lighten skin tone by lessening the concentration ofmelanin produced. This whitening process can help lighten a tan, fade scars, and alleviate dark patches on the skin through the use of topical skin lightening creams and lotions that often contain plant extracts that have bleaching effects on the skin or chemical agents such as hydroquinone, azelaic acid, and retinoic acid. While several chemicals have been shown to be effective in skin whitening, some have proved to be toxic or have questionable safety profiles. Their harmful effects add to the controversy surrounding their use and the impacts they have on certain ethnic groups who apply skin lighteners to their entire body so as to achieve a lighter complexion. But this can be very risky as the active ingredient in some bleaching creams contain steroids or mercury, a toxic agent that can lead to mercury drunkenness causing serious psychiatric, neurological, andkidneyproblem (http//www .webmd.com/beauty/face/skin-lightening-products, 09/03/2013)With a history that can be dated as far back as the Elizabethan age of powder and paint (Williams, 1957), the elaborate white make-up of Japanese Geishas (http//www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/apr/04/japan.nicolemowbray, 08/03/2013) or even the deep rooted desire Indians to have grim skin because it will that is entwined with Indias complex social hierarchy or caste system (Gomes and Westerhof 2001), it is evident that skin bleaching has existed for thousands of years. Yet, despite the warnings given by health officials to coach the masses about the dangers of skin bleaching creams, there are millions of people worldwide who dont heed these messages, particularly Jamaicans, who in fact, have reached dangerous proportions, particularly in the countrys slums. For them, a lighter complexion is seen as a ticket to upward mobility socially, professionally and economically. As a result, they paste their entire bodies with white c ream, don a racecourse suit and intermittently try to refrain from the suns darkening powers. The various homemade concoctions such as toothpaste, curry powder, milk powder, household bleach, aloe vera and cornmeal that are used as part of their skin-lightening routine, a routine that some people do up to three times a day, is a way for them to achieve their goal (http//jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091115/news/news3.html, 12/03/2013).Frantz Fanon (1952), the Martinique-born French psychiatrist, used psychoanalytical theory to explore the psyche of the Negro as shaped by the Eurocentric world in which he lives, especially in a colonial context vis--vis skin colour. Although he does not actually reference skin bleaching, he does speak of the inferiority complex engendered in the mind of Black people, who try to adapt to and imitate the culture of the colonizer so as to attain some sort of identity, especially after having been forcibly removed from their own African roots. With that in mind, the attempt to assign color privilege based upon proximity to whiteness by circumnavigating the parameters of the white/non-white binary racial hierarchy is the spectrum upon which Pigmentocracy, and therefore colourism, is based (Blay, 5). It is the unconscious and unnatural training of black people from a young age to associate blackness with wrongness that has given rise to this widespread global phenomenon of skin whitening.The idea that ones destiny is intertwined with the colour of ones skin is ludicrous to some, however, in the lives of these Jamaicans, it is as absolute as night and day. Synonymous with the practice of slaves in the past, men and women are currently trying to ameliorate their socio-economic standing by marrying into families of a higher breed, but the only way to even reach this gateway of social mobility, according to them, is to physically alter their looks as well. Popular Jamaican proverbs like anything too black nuh good, or when yuh black yuh affi stick back and if yuh brown come around reinforce the high degree of colour prejudice existing in contemporary Jamaica today.The exsanguineideal (Kardiner Ovesey, 1962) which includes pale skin, long, straight hair, and aquiline features, assesses the enduring influences on societal assessments of human value. Skin bleaching then represents one attempt to approximate the White ideal and cons

Monday, June 3, 2019

To Determine Social Media Usage Among Malaysia Student Media Essay

To Determine Social Media Usage Among Malaysia Student Media EssayRecent year start out shown a world broad growth pattern in loving interaction in digital media more knows as hearty media. Today more than hundreds of millions profit user all over the world visited thousand of companionable media sites. Social media come out parallel with various technological affordances, supporting with a wide range of interests and practices. While, their key technological features argon somewhat consistent and the cultures that emerge around societal media sites are varied. Most sites support the maintenance of pre-existing societal net movements, notwithstanding another(prenominal)s help oneself strangers connect based on reasons, shared interests, political bets, or activities.Universal McCann (2009) conducted an extensive cultivation on social media physical exercise among 232000 mobile mesh users in 38 countries during spring 2009. This study showed that social consumption o f digital content is either highly penetrated among active mesh users or settle down growing rapidly. Besides that, through this study in any case scratch out that consumers continue to flock to digital destinations in sanctify to create and share content, but they are now becoming more selective in terms of where they are doing it included the tools of social media are starting to coalesce on to a single platform type, namely the social network.According to Universal McCann (2009), 17 percent of active internet users globally now access the internet on the move, in others words internet and social media use are becoming more mobile. Social media platforms to a fault are becoming more multi-media and the number of bloggers and social network users who have uploaded photos, videos, music and widgets has continued to onward motion since the last study conducted in 2007 until 2008. From this schooling, thither is no doubt at all that social media increasingly important and becom e a culture for people all over the world in this era 21st century.Background of the studyThis study leave behind carry out in Universiti Utara Malaysia because students are not exceptional as the active internet user and they have a high(prenominal) access to the internet especially in variety types of social media. It is also because many students are teenager and still young. Usually, at this age the student have a higher desire to do something that their looking interesting and something new. Commonly, student will use many type of social media depending on their reasons. Sometimes, they visited social networking sites, collaboration websites, creativity work share-out sites and others type of social media to get any instruction, to make a discussion, to keep in touch with friend, for media share, self presentation and debate, social networks, referencing and recommendation work and many else.Problem statementCurrently, social media become phenomena to all internet users n ot only in Malaysia but all over the world. According to the youthful report, more than 30% teenager neglecting their school and also family because spend a long time to access social media. We backside see that young became habituated to social media. Social media addiction will occur when people visited websites regularly without any motive, goal and became of their habit every day. Social media addicted is more plausibly to happens to a university student that have a greater access to the computer. So, this research will conduct a study in Universiti Utara Malaysia to identify the social media usage among Universiti Utara Malaysia student and also to specialize the factors that motivate them to subject part in social media.1.3 Research questionThis research aims to answer the following questionWhat are the social media usages among Universiti Utara Malaysia student and what are the factors motivate them to take part in social media?1.4 Research objectiveResearch objective h as listed belowTo determine social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student.To determine whether social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student is motivate by performance.To determine whether social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student is motivate by passing time.To determine whether social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student is motivate by information seeking.To determine whether social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student is motivate by social connective.To determine whether social media usage among University Utara Malaysia student is motivate by entertainment.1.5 Significance of the studyA study on internet user regarding social media was done by antecedently researchers. However, the author choose to take the graduate as the scope of the study as this group is those who are educated and expose to technologies changes especially in emerging of variety type social media. They believe through social media they can gain many advantages and beneficial information. Hence, this group should be addressed to enhance a better understanding about social media and the factors motivate to take part in social media.The author chooses Universiti Utara Malaysia to conduct this study because Universiti Utara Malaysia is one of the early higher educations in Malaysia. Besides that, this study location at northern peninsular of Malaysia because until now, there did not have any study conduct regarding social media in Malaysia.This study is considered important because to identified the social media usage and to determined the factors that motivate Universiti Utara Malaysia student to take part in social media. This study also was conducted to view growing rapidly all over the world. The previously research about social media should be given a new lease.1.6 Scope and limitation of the studyThe studies on the social media usages and motive factors to take part in social media only focused only to the grad uates. Graduated are here devoted to College of line of work student that consist of undergraduate student and also postgraduates student. The researcher will make Universiti Utara Malaysia student from College of Business as their population and sample will be randomly selected from the population. The limitation of this study is limited to the Universiti Utara Malaysia student only because of timing problem and also budget problem.Organization of the research projectCHAPTER 2lit REVIEWIntroductionIn this chapter earlier studies connected to the problem area and more specifically to the research questions, will be discussed. First, previous studies related to the comment of social media from previous research, will be presented. Then, literature regarding the research question from prototypic question until the last question about social media usage and motivation factor to take part in social media among Universiti Utara Malaysia student will be brought up in this chapter.2.1 S ocial mediaFrom the previous research, we can see there have several definitions of social media given by the previous researcher. The definition that already given by the previous researchers is so variety and there is no clear definition about social media.According to Universal McCann (2009), social media is a platform for social connection and also an application to user generated content. It is a new kind of online media that can be characterized by user participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness (Mayfield, 2006). Blog, micro blog, RSS, widget, social networking sites, chat room, message board, video and photo sharing is included in central of social media (Universal McCann, 2009).According to Universal McCann (2009), social media design is about designing platforms and applications for social interaction and user generated content. Social media is a new kind of online media characterized by user participation, openness, conversation, community, and conn ectedness (Mayfield, 2006). Central social media platforms include blogging, micro blogging, RSS, widgets, social networking, chat rooms, message boards, podcasts, video sharing, and photo sharing (Universal McCann, 2009)Social media is an application and brass that can support content sharing, and create environment for sociable online that included solution for media sharing, presentation and debate, social network, referencing and recommendation and also sources for create knowledge. It also may include technology platform interactive television and also mobile phone (Karahasanovic Folstad, 2008).According to Karahasanovi Flstad (2008), social media are systems and applications supporting content sharing and co-creation in sociable online environments. This includes solutions for media sharing (e.g. YouTube, Flickr), self presentation and debate (e.g. MySpace, blogs), social networks (e.g. Facebook, LinkedIn), referencing and recommendation services (e.g. Digg, Del.icio.us) a nd co-created knowledge resources (e.g. Wikipedia). Social media may also include technology platforms such as interactive television and mobile phones (Karahasanovi Flstad, 2008).According to Kaplan et al (2010), social media is a group of internet based application that can build ideology and technology foundation of electronic network 2.0 that can allow creations of user generated contents and also exchanges the user generated contents. Web 2.0 can be consider as platform for the evolution of social media because it represent the ideology and technology foundation that have being seeing as the sum of all way in which people make use the social media (Kaplan et al, 2010).Social Media is a group of net based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of User Generated Content. They consider Web 2.0 as the platform for the evolution of Social Media because when Web 2.0 represents the ideological a nd technological foundation, User Generated Content (UGC) can be seen as the sum of all ways in which people make use of Social Media (Kaplan et al, 2010). at that place have three requirements in User Generate Content that included need to be published, certain amount of creative effort need to be show and lastly need to create extraneous from the practices and routine (Kaplan et al, 2010).According to Kaplan et al, (2010) User Generated Content needs to fulfil three basic requirements in order to be considered as such first, it needs to be published either on a existencely accessible website or on a social networking site accessible to a selected group of people and second, it needs to show a certain amount of creative effort and finally, it needs to have been created outside of professional routines and practices.The combination of technological drivers likes annexd broadband availability and hardware capacity, economic drivers likes increased availability of tools for the cre ation of User Generated Content and social drivers likes rise of a generation of digital natives and screenagers younger age groups with substantial technical knowledge and willingness to engage online will make User Generated Content nowadays essentially different from what was observed in the early 1980s. (Kaplan et al, 2010).According to Danah Allison (2007), social media is a web based service that allow user to construct a compose either public or semi public profile that will be bound by the system, all will be listed in the system included list of other user that they are connected with and lastly view and traverse their list that they are connected with and other within the systems. The connection is different between sites to sites.Social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to construct a public or semi-public profile within a jump system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and lastly view and traverse their list o f connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and spoken language of these connections may vary from site to site (Danah and Ellison, 2007).2.2 Factors motivate to take part in social mediaThey are many factors that can motivate user to take part in social media. It is included because of performance, passing time, information seeking, social connection and entertainment that will be elaborate below2.2.1 Self vistaFrom literature we can comment several different reasons why customers visit social media sites. Shao (2008), believe that the user contributed to social media because their need to self expression. This statement also supported by Sirgys (1982) claim that user looking for the experience that will enhance their self concept.Shao (2008) suggests that users contribute because they have a need for self-expression and self-actualization, which is supported by Sirgys (1982) claim that individuals look for experiences that enhance their self-concept.Acc ording to Shao (2008), self expression refer to user communicated their own identities and also their individualities. It is charter that user wan to communicate themselves to other person, so other person will know about themselves as they know themselves (Shao, 2008).Self-expression refers to users communicating their own identity and individuality (Shao, 2008). It is assumed that people penury to communicate themselves to other people, so that others can know them as they know themselves (Goffman, 1959 McKenna and Bargh 1999 Swann, 1983 Shao, 2008).2.2.2 Performancethere are various types of Social Media that need to be separate further. However, although most people would probably agree that Wikipedia, YouTube, Facebook, and Second Life are all part of this large group, there is no systematic way in which different Social Media applications can be categorized.To create such a classification scheme, and to do so in a systematic manner, we rely on a set of theories in the field of media research (social presence, media richness) and social processes (self-presentation, self-disclosure), the two key elements of Social Media.Applied to the context of Social Media, we assume that a first classification can be made based on the richness of the medium and the degree of social presence it allows.Applied to the context of Social Media, we assume that a second classification can be made based on the degree of self-disclosure it requires and the type of self-presentation it allows.Social media encompasses a wide range of online, grape vine forums including blogs, company sponsored discussion boards and chat rooms, consumer-to-consumer e-mail, consumer product or service ratings websites and forums, Internet discussion boards and forums, moblogs (sites containing digital audio, images, movies, or photographs), and social networking websites, to name a few. As illustrated by Table 1, social media outlets are numerous and varied.2.2.3 Passing time2.2.4 Information s eekingAccording to Shao (2008) argue that the primary use of social media among user is to find information and also to build the knowledge. Users can get technical prise from social media through find the specific information that can broadening and increase their knowledge (Shao, 2008).Shao (2008) suggest that the primary use is looking for information and building knowledge. In social media technical value can be seen as the value that the customer gets from finding specific information or just broadening his knowledge (Shao, 2008).Desire to increase knowledge among user are motivated user to seeking for the information. User not only wants to get information about others and the world but they also want to provide information about themselves to others and the world.Shao (2008) argues that information seeking is motivated by users desire to increase knowledge. Users want information about themselves, others and the world (Shao, 2008). Studies show that people are increasingly l ooking for information on the web, which has lead to sites like wikipedia.org growing rapidly (Shao, 2008).According to Kaplan (2010), the trend of social media can be seen as evolution to the Internet root since macrocosm Wide Web already transform to became a platform that can exchanges information between user.The current trend toward Social Media can therefore be seen as an evolution back to the Internets roots, since it retransforms the World Wide Web to what it was initially created for a platform to facilitate information exchange between users (Kaplan, 2010).Shao (2008), argue that users can find and get information about product and services but in some cases, user are more trusted the information that they are getting from others user compare to the information that they are getting from the marketers.Searching for information can also be related to reading about products or services. In most cases, users trust information that they get from other users more than they tru st information that is provided by marketers (Shao, 2008).According Kim et al, (2010) both extremitys and non-members have two types of facilities to find the information they need on social Web sites. The facilities are keyword-based search engines and browsing. The search engines can be used to look for the names of people, names of groups, and feature UCCs. Browsing can be done on selected groups and UCCs in a particular category. Most sites allow keyword-based search of text-based contents. Some search engines are fairly powerful, while others are crude. The users can also browse the results of keyword-based searches, and groups and UCCs that are suggested as related to the group and UCCs the users currently view. All social Web sites provide categories for the UCCs stored, so that users may browse UCCs in a specific category.2.2.5 Social connectionSocial media can also increase users social interactions, and decreases loneliness or help users manage their moods (Shao, 2008). These motivations can also be linked to the community aspect of social media, as Tedjamulia et al (2005) suggests that one of the reasons why users choose to contribute is because they feel motivated to do so because of being part of a community.Social Web sites provide various facilities for members to use to communicate with their online connections, that is, friends and other members. These include email, flashing messaging, text messaging, and public and private bulletin boards, and even Internet phone services. Such sites as MySpace and Facebook allow their members to use the messaging and phone call facilities of Internet phone services, such as Skype (Kim et al, 2010).Further, according to Kim et al, (2010) on behalf of the members, the sites send member updates and notices using emails or text messages to members friends. They also send updates and notices to members of groups. The sites also display friends updates to members public and private boards.For example, Twitter allows members to send mes- sages to friends on what the members are doing. A message, which is restricted to 140 characters, may be sent to friends mobile devices and their Twitter accounts. A member may have one or more followers, and many members may be following a member. Facebook provides a mini bulletin board (called a wall) to post a members message for all friends to see and respond to. LinkedIn provides an answers function to allow members to answer questions posted by other members, and to refer the questions to their online connections.

Sunday, June 2, 2019

Development of the Understanding of Dyslexia

Development of the Understanding of DyslexiaIntroductionThe following three chapters offer not solo an introduction, simply an in depth analysis of the current earth of the reckon of Dyslexia today. Much of the information evaluated for this study was ground on the preeminent minds in the study of learning disabilities today. It is the responsibility of a curious society to run across the causal and symptomological relationships for a particular incommode prior to its diagnosis. Dyslexia presents a unique ch allenge to this social responsibility because of a uniquely manifested heterogeneity which is pervasive in many forms. pull ahead research is decidedly required in baseball club to isolate the underlying cause of such an affliction, yet with current medical info and a limited number of scientific studies, this feat remains next to impossible, even one blow years after its initial recognition.Chapter OneWhen his shiver hand gripped tightly to the pencil and the haggle began to flow freely, their meaning rushed by dint of his mind minute synaptic reactions converted thought into impulse and set ahead into written interchange. When lead, however, by a stupefied instructor, it was the letter reversal, in addition to scurvy, un develop handwriting which brought cause for alarm. Visits with a Neurologist, discussions with a Psychiatrist, all led towards an poor diagnosis Dyslexia. IntroductionThe following chapter is designed to offer an in depth history and background for one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed walk outations in history Dyslexia. It is unless through thorough comprehension of this disturb and the cap index affects on youth and adults alike that proper diagnosis and treatment depart be initiated.Defining a TheoryWhen opening be catchs practice and eventually is predominately a diagnosis, it stands to reason that a clear and effective definition of that guess would aid in discussion with patients and procreation fo r educators. However, when a disablement necessitates the scientific consensus of hundreds of doctors dealing with similar, yet uniquely find outd cases, the theory go out flounder, pinned in a net of conflicting case studies and rhetoric. Websters Dictionary defines Dyslexia as a variable oft familial learning dis faculty involving hardies in acquiring and processing language that is typically manifested by a lack of advance in rendering, spelling, and writing.1 This definition is not particularly enlightening, nor does it elevate our comprehension of what symptoms or solutions whitethorn be present for such a disorder. go forth culture would have us believe that all dyslexics evidence speech backwards, atomic number 18 inwardly frustrated individuals, and ar oftentimes lazy in study while uniquely talented in an other(a) aspect of life. Yet, with the ambiguous definitions which have punctuated the study of this disorder, it can easily be seen how education in this su bject is lacking, particularly in terms of diagnosis. The term dyslexia comes from the Greek root dys (trouble) and lexia ( ledger).2 It is easily seen how such a generic definition can lead to cracking scientific debate, not only in study, but in treatment as well. There is no singular treatment for dyslexia, in fact, this is a lifetime balk where teaching aw areness in addition to atypical forms of learning becomes paramount in the normal functionability of the patient.Most common in modern definitions of Dyslexia is that it is a phonologic disorder predicated by neurological dysfunction lend to poor see, writing, and oftentimes learning abilities. This theory, however, becomes problematic as a variety of scientific studies seek to lessen the extent that cerebral malfunction influences phonological impairment. Through simplification of the diagnosis procedure, tests such as IQ examination become the benchmark for identification dyslexics as opposed to poor readers. It is impo rtant to note that dyslexics do not have an intelligence deficiency. Their disorder is directly linked to improper phonological interpretation, and oftentimes, unique strengths tog out from within this impairment. The following sections will further explore the preeminent theories behind dyslexia, in addition to extrapolating linked generic theories into cohesive formats by which further understand of dyslexia will be simplified.Dyslexia Historical perspectiveThe first case study which endeavored to define dyslexia was recorded in 1872 by a physician, R. Berlin of Stuttgart, Germany. The initial cases of dyslexia were predominately adults who had lost the ability to read, save, or comprehend language in some cases cod to severe trauma or head wounds. Early definitions of this disorder invoked use of a to a greater extent common term aphasic, or a loss of the ability to use or comprehend words. In 1877, A. Kussmaul educeed the theory of word blindness to describe a patient who similar to earlier cases, had lost his ability to read. In 1887, the term alexia was first defined as an unfitness to comprehend written words by Charcot. All of these predecessors led to the modern term, dyslexia which we use fluidly today. This term was first defined by Bateman in 1890 who had determined a form of verbal dimout in which a patient had lost his memory of the conventional meaning of language.In 1896, Morgan formulated a revised definition called congenital word blindness, citing a 14-year-old boy who although he functioned on a similar intellectual level with his peers, had a specific difficulty in learning to read. Further comprehension of this disorder surfaced with James Hinshelwood, a surgeon at the Glasgow Eye Infirmary who published a series of articles in the journal The Lancet. These articles dealt more specifically with acquired word blindness than Morgans congenital word blindness and after his first experiences with congenital cases in early 1900, Hinshel wood eventually published a book on some(prenominal) forms of word blindness which further defined theories behind the disorders. This taxonomic classification system was based upon the bring aboutance of the patients when attempting to read. In this regard, Hinshelwoods formulations and methodology resemble those of contemporaneous neuropsychology.3 Hinshelwoods research led him to create reading guidelines, including a three stage model of learning in which educators could focus their efforts on training scholars to read proficiently. Part of Hinshelwoods congenital word blindness related to what he had previously witnessed in adults which were a major trauma or head crack which led to the apparent disorder. His believe was that during the turn outing process or at some point during infancy, extreme head trauma or a birth defect had caused the lapse in language abilities, creating the word blindness.Study in the area of reading difficulty continued. In 1925, an American Neu rologist named Samuel Orton proposed a theory regarding the specific formation of these disorders. According to Orton, reading reversals (e.g. b for d and saw for was) were caused by problems with cerebral dominance in the early stages of reading.4 This mirror-image theory was one of the most misconstrued and misunderstood theories of the early twentieth century. By the early seventies, however, the mirror-image theory had been discredited on the background that while dyslexia affects language functions, it does not seem to affect other visual undertakings such as forms of recognition.During the 60s and 70s, visual perception and correction of this problem in relation to dyslexia became a debatable theory. Marianne Frostig actual a test for visual perception and a remedial training program involving tracing, and copying shapes and patterns.5 This test was unsuccessful when paired with dyslexic scholars and was in clutchly utilized without positive result for some time. In 1962 , Herbert Birch proposed the intersensory deficit hypothesis which proposes that because reading utilizes both auditory and visual senses, that on that point is an innate inability to perform the dual tasks. His theory was also discredited as testing lacked in control mechanisms and an inability to replicate results with consistent reliability plagued Birch and his associates.6From these bases of research on dyslexia came a flurry of tests, examinations, theories, discredited scientists, and the debate still continues. Current theories tend to focus on areas of the brain which are abnormally affected by the disorder, but more importantly, research into the techniques required in order to appropriately educate affected individuals has increased. This research, in addition to testing, continues to allow for uniquely afflicted individuals to lead unusual yet uncured lives.PhonologyFrom Record to recordWhen dyslexia moves from theory to diagnosis, phonological deficits become measurab le symptoms of the disorder. Phonology, or the study and description of the sound changes in a language, can help educators pinpoint and explore specific regions of sound including word pairings and splits. Additionally, it is one of the most affected areas of comprehension relative to dyslexia. The amazing discovery is that throng systematically ignore certain properties of sounds. They perceive two different sounds as the same sound. We call the stored versions of speech sounds phonemes. Thus phonemes are the phonetic alphabet of the mind. That is, phonemes are how we mentally represent speech how we store the sounds of words in our memory. Dyslexia, however, as previously defined, is a disorder in accessing the proper linguistic characteristics as related to reading and writing. Therefore, in extrapolating disability from inability, it is essential to determine whether the baby is phonetically challenged, they have an inability to attach proper synaptic responses to linguistic characteristic, or in a non-dyslexic case, that the problem could be directly related to visual acumen.If there is a possibility that the baby has a visual impairment which while spartan and requiring further diagnosis and study, it does not decidedly group them into a dyslexic category. Overall, studies have shown perceptual deficits in vision related to impaired motion espial and in phonology related to impaired coding. This impairment is related to symmetry, reversed asymmetry, and lower numbers of neurons in, predominantly, the temporal lobes and visual motion areas of the occipital lobe. Also, the auditory deficits whitethorn be closely related to temporal abnormalities that impede speed and accuracy for speech-sound relationships in reading of the planum temporale region, as well as the thalamus near the corpus callosum.7 It is this potential drop brain abnormality which stimulates this disorder so difficult to define and identifying specifically which deficits contribute directly to the dyslexic tendencies of a child is a most difficult and sometimes impossible process.Additionally, the clique of theories and definitions of learning disabilities makes the educators task of proper identification much more difficult. It has been shown that explicit training in phonological awareness can lead to improved word reading evidence of a reciprocal causal relationship between phonological awareness and reading has also been found.8 In assessing potential dyslexics, it is widely held that phonological deficit is one of the most reliable assessors when comparing results from a controlled variety of children. Evaluations of this deficit oftentimes hire the place of speed tests, word recognition studies, and testing of verbal fluency. As debate continues about the underlying causal factors of phonological deficit, one powerful theory is that cerebellar deficit is the only single explanation of problems in balance, phonology, and speed, and is also one explanat ion of pure phonology/speed problems.9 This localized brain disaster directly relates many of the predominant symptoms of dyslexia, including combining many different areas of testing and relating them to one overall harm, as opposed to a variety of causes for a multitude of symptoms.SymptomsIn order to diagnose and treat such a motley disorder such as dyslexia, symptomology, or breaking down specific traits and behaviors into repeatable offenses, must be at the forefront of the educators investigating. But, when every childs individual response to the disorder is different, where does one begin to define those unique traits which enable grouping, and therefore, repeatable treatment and disability management? As will be defined in future sections, it is essential to the educator that they are able to differentiate between the textbook dyslexic and the garden variety poor reader. Oftentimes, IQ testing is performed on children to initiate a benchmark for further evaluation of va riance from this basis point. Children who exhibit reading variances below the average IQ of the test group cannot be immediately defined as dyslexic. Further investigation involving a variety of controlled examinations must be performed in order to discover the unique symptoms associated with the particular childs disability.It must be notable that oftentimes dyslexia is a hidden disorder, primarily because of social pressures placed on children to perform in school. Fear of labeling, coupled with parental disappointment can be a powerful motivator in masking or hiding of dyslexic symptoms. Initial determination of this disorder must be made through observation and recognition of potential warning signs. Parents are often aware that their children have some problems with language before they start school. Youngsters with language processing disabilities may be slow in learning to speak, and may use shorter sentences, smaller vocabularies, and poorer grammar than their brothers and sisters did at similar ages.10As symptoms are not easily identified due to lack of visual corroboration, there are a variety of discrepancy principles which are most often utilized for more accurate prognosis. IQ testing will be discussed in detail in further sections, yet, the ability to establish a connection between variances in observed and expected work make this form of testing one of the most consistent, yet debated, techniques for initial identification of dyslexic symptoms. Similarly, reading and listening comprehension are often analyse in an attempt to determine obvious strengths in one category over the other.11 Determining that a patients reading comprehension is uttermost inferior to his listening does not, however, decidedly diagnose them as dyslexic. This approach must identify the innate deficiency in word identification and contrast those results with riffle discrepancy evaluations.Additionally, the definition of phonological deficiency pervades this model, as dyslexic children can have problems with written and spoken words alike. As dyslexia is clearly a heterogeneous disorder, a variety of symptoms requires varying evaluations, and in both of these discrepancy tests, the symptomology alone does not dictate dyslexia. A third area of discrepancy evaluation relates chronological age to reading age. Yet, historic evaluations of schooling and environmental factors (home environment, access to reading materials, etc) become paramount in determination whether or not the reading proficiency directly correlates to the social environment of the child. Again, it is the predicated evaluation of all apparent and collaborative symptoms which enables accurate diagnosis and appropriate educational tactics.CausalityOften confused with symptomology, precedent is the identification of the underlying failures contributing directly to the disorder. For dyslexic evaluations, an simplified approach to causality is to determine that a phonological impairmen t has contributed to an inability to read and write at the same level as their peers. Therefore, treatment tactics will include direct reading training, word recognition instruction, symbolic representation, and intensified reading emphasis. In the next chapter, RTI (responsiveness to intervention) will be discussed as a replacement for the wait to fail approach, which when utilized mighty, determines their responsiveness to the training and potentially prevent misdiagnosis. Could the child respond to the phonological training? If there were dramatic improvement through basic teaching tactics which were more localized to poor readers, wherefore maybe the entire diagnosis of dyslexia could be removed, and focus on reading abilities and further instruction would become a priority. However, dyslexia, as previously stated, is a lifetime disability which mandates many changes in lifestyle and learning approach. The underlying causes are irreversible, and proper diagnosis is paramount in determining the best tactics toward normalization.The World confederacy of Neurology defines dyslexia as a disorder manifested by difficulty in learning to read despite conventional instruction, adequate intelligence, and sociocultural opportunity. It is dependent upon extreme cognitive disabilities which are frequently of constitutional origin.12 Directly related to the phonological impairment is a cerebral malfunction or failure in which not only reading and writing abilities are impaired, motor skills including balance can also be affected. In addition to cerebral malfunctions, it is a well cognize fact that both sides of the brain process and perform different functions as related to thinking the left side predominantly controls speech, reading, writing, and numeric processing ability the ride side controls creativity, musical ability, and imagination. Mixed hemispheric dominance is attributed to the cause of improper phoneme reproduction is due to the brains hemispheric re sponses to stimuli.13 Therefore, the functions normally controlled by the left half of the brain are delegated in part to the right side, an area not typically charged with these particular functions. Dyslexics are often characterized as picture thinkers, or students who tend to think and speak in very imaginative capacities, often formulating speech as though they were painting a picture. In this scenario, the causality of photo-dictation is directly related to a confused hemispheric dominance. It is important, however, to note that assumption of causal relation to dyslexic symptoms can only be pass through intense scientific research and neurological study. Causes of this impairment are readily defined, but oftentimes troublesome in clinical corroboration.Mythological hole or Modern MysteryIt is the duty and underlying objective of the scientist to investigate all causes and symptoms of a particular disorder in order to determine without a doubt the symbiotic relationship between the two and repeatability of testing procedures with future patients. Therefore, it would stand to reason that as time passes and frequency of variance within investigation techniques subsides, that scientific data would affirm one theory of dyslexia above all others. Unfortunately, the heterogeneity of this disorder has left a lifetime of neurologists without a solid ground from which to hoist concrete scientific evidence as to the causes and treatments for dyslexia. The most problematic area of the body has proven to be the brain, and for obvious reasons, interpreting its responses to educational stimuli is a difficult and painstaking task.Study aside, cultural mores supply myths which often muddle educated theories regarding dyslexia. One myth as qualified by an ignorant instructor of a dyslexic student was well, I mean, its one of those things that has been conjured up by pushy parents for their thick or lazy children, quite often both.14 These myths affect cultural perceptio n as well as tactics educators explore in relation to future education of clinically diagnosed dyslexics. It is essential to the support and appropriate treatment of dyslexia that the dispelling of common myths becomes a priority. The following represents some of the most prevalent, but certainly not all myths associated with this disorder.MythsAll dyslexics read backwardsAs previously stated, dyslexia is not simply a backwards reading disorder. While letter and word manipulation is a result of the disorder, not all dyslexics view words backwards. Oftentimes mirrored writing is an effect, yet proper teaching and techniques enable dyslexics to read and write over time as well as non-impaired individuals.Dyslexia only affects reading Discussion of symptomology of this disorder clearly shows that writing, listening, even motor skills are often affected by dyslexia. Phonological impairment does not limit dyslexic symptoms to poor reading alone. The inability to appropriately process and utilize language, words, and letters affects all areas related to these categories.Dyslexics have a poor sense of directionDyslexics are often grouped into a category of individuals with poor sense of direction, and ones who are often clumsy or inept. While dyslexia can oftentimes cause a directional confusion, it is a trait which is dictated by the unique affectation of a heterogeneous affliction.Dyslexia can be curedScientific advancements have challenged the term of the human mind, yet manipulation of the brain, moreover, repair of major cerebral impairments, is as of date an impossibility with relation to dyslexia. Many dyslexics will learn to live normally with their impairment many have already gone on to become great historical figures, yet curing this disorder is simply a task charged to the neurologists of the future.My parents can read so I am not dyslexicThe genetic link between relatives and dyslexia is apparent and proven. The misconception however lies within the me ntation that genetic correlation is linked directly to the parents. Heredity and dyslexia form a bond within a familys genetic makeup, enabling the link to come from oftentimes removed relatives, Uncle, Aunt, Grandfather. Dyslexia is a hereditary disorder and further research into a family tree reveals the path of its emergence.15Dyslexia, a mystery to scientists and educators for over one hundred years, presents children with challenges unlike other afflictions. The inability to localize the gene or regional affectation which causes dyslexia presents an almost hopeless image of what, in other scenarios, might be considered a gift. It is the unique modifications made by the mind which enable dyslexics to processes other areas of learning more quickly than other students, and this compensation oftentimes more than outweighs the enervation of a decrease in language comprehension.Personal AffectationWhy Me?Scientific study aside, the human factor relative to living with dyslexia is pre valent and valuable of discussion. A child in an educationally pervasive society with expectations and standards thrust on him on a regular basis would find his inability to read common words not only frustrating but frightening. From a psychological standpoint, abnormality in a very standardized environment causes great confusion among children. Their inability to fully comprehend the situation will often lead to masking tactics in addition to rebellious behavior which carries the potential for misdiagnosis.The perspective of a potential dyslexic is that they will be ridiculed in school settings for their differences and perhaps even placed in remedial classes in order to help them have a full and prosperous education. It is the responsibility of the educator as well as the parents to address this particular affliction, not as an indisposition but as a gift. Reminding students that a very impressive list of famous and successful dyslexics exists today and that more are added to i t yearly allows for a comforter factor which can offset some of the fear. Creating an educational blueprint which navigates the student through the symptoms and adaptations of dyslexia and assists them to define a life of normalcy is a priority. The upcoming chapter will discuss the specific processes which can assist a student in a prosperous and diverse lifestyle in addition to addressing and identifying the unique factors of their disorder which may eventually help neurologists pinpoint the cause of dyslexia.Chapter TwoSitting before his teacher, hands clenched tightly in front of him on the desk, the student waited with anticipation as the cards were raised one at a time. The pictures were familiar, the writing seemed like something he had seen once before but it didnt make sense. The instructor slowly prompted the wary student, the sounds forming behind tight lips. His first steps towards living with dyslexia had begun.IntroductionThe following chapter will not only evaluate d yslexia based upon specific traits and the modern techniques utilized to explore and define the disorder, it will explore the potential benefits of choosing each uniquely suited tactic in the attempt to properly diagnose and treat with accuracy.Necessity or MisdiagnosisCongratulations, you have dyslexia. This is not exactly a reasonable statement for a neurologist to make to a configuration school child who is afflicted with the malady. Nor can he treat the diagnosis as though he has spelled the end of a normal lifestyle for this excite adolescent. It is important for educators to note that the process which is undertaken in order to get to this step, the ultimate diagnosis of the disorder, must be recognized, internalized, and practiced on a regular basis in order to avoid unfortunate misdiagnosis.The student who stands on his desk and yells mild obscenities at the top of his lungs will not only gain laughs from his classmates, but will most likely enjoy a trip to the school coun selor. Should he appear restless and frustrated as his problems are probed, the counselor will suggest further examination. Eventually, ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder could become the prognosis, and Ritalin the drug of choice for overcoming this unfortunate scenario. And perhaps Ritalin does not work and the school public presentation continues to falter, then another trip to the physician and another diagnosis, yet a complete absence of alternate thinking regarding the disability is present at this time. The poor spelling and scribbled essays are completely forgotten in exchange for a reprise from destructive and irascible behavior. It is the failure of the teacher to note the extreme inability to read aloud in front of the class and realize that the reaction to his embarrassment is the disruptive nature for which they are medicating.An ability to recognize, diagnose with accuracy, and utilize trained teaching abilities to inspire change and growth are qualities that are lacking in many of todays teachers. Its not a failure of their intelligence by any means, nor is it the training they have received it is that there are simply too many variables from which to accurately diagnose learning disabilities in children.Experience, coupled with comprehension of relevant learning categories is essential to proper dyslexic diagnosis.Family and heredity, as stated before, is essential to understanding the childs genetic makeup. If there is a history of dyslexia within the family, closer attention can be paid to specific traits which are associated with the disorder than if there were not such congruence. linguistic communication skills are additionally a priority, as these abilities are essentially the area in question when formulating a diagnosis. Evaluation of comprehension, word identification, pronunciation and word recovery are only a few of the basic categories from which to test a child.Reading, aloud and silently should also be tested. Listening to the child and analyzing particular word confusion, in addition to pronunciation issues will allow for important data to be drawn. Additionally, querying the child regarding reading comprehension can give insight into how the child processes the information they are taking in.Spelling and writing are essential as well. Looking for obviously inverted spelling in addition to word mirroring can be essential to the appropriate diagnosis.Handwriting as well becomes a necessary category from which to draw conclusions. Letter formation, balance of lines, spaces, paper alignment, all are paramount to proper evaluation.Memory becomes a category for study, as all time frames should be probed, from long to short term, in addition to visual memory.It is through the mastery of evaluation of these categories, as well as experience with the basic psychology relevant to children of this age and proclivity, that will enable the educator or evaluator to appropriately diagnose and if all else fails, point the st udent towards the correct diagnosis and treatment center.Phonological InstructionThe previously discussed phonological failure contributing to dyslexia warrants a structured approach to therapy and instruction. Nearly unanimously, researchers agree that proper phonological instruction is a priority for all school children, and even more necessitated with children diagnosed with dyslexia. The common findings suggest that early and direct teaching of sound-symbol relationships produces better decoding skills than later and less explicit phonics instruction (Clark, 83).16Synthetic Phonics InstructionIn this approach to phonological instruction, a specific phoneme is separated and taught to the child prior to blending or inclusion in syllables or entire words. ie. /ph/ is inscribed on prompt cards where the student learns to recognize an image of a phone through sight in addition to phoneme. Once this process has been appropriately completed and the student exhibits repeatable compreh ension of the relationship, the phoneme is synthesized within words with letters that are already known so that the child may read them. Synthetic relationships are in this way established between objects, letters, and phoneme.Intrinsic Phonics InstructionAs suggested by its title, this form of phonetic instruction utilizes complete words, beginning with those that are most often already known to the children. The patients are then encouraged to draw relationships between the letters, practicing phoneme and letter relationship at one time rather than learning segments and then grouping them to create words.One program which has successfully adopted the Synthetic Phonetic approach to dyslexic instruction was initiated by the wife and co-scientist of Samuel Orton in coaction with her partner Anna Gillingham in 1960. The approach was summarized through the following distinguishing featuresIt is a direct approach to the study of phonics, presenting

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Mashua :: Botany

MashuaMashua (Tropaeolum tuberosum Ruiz & Pavn 1802), also known as isanu, cubio, au, ysao, or puel, is a tuber crop indigenous to the Andean highlands and is of economic value as a food and medicinal crop. This root crop ranks fourth in importance in the Andean region after potato, oca, and ulloco (NRC, 1989). Of the Andean tubers, mashua is one of the highest yielding, easiest to grow, and the most frost resistant. Mashua is cultivated in the Andes of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, and Venezuela (Gibbs et al., 1978). It is currently being grown experimentally in New Zealand and the Pacific Northwest to evaluate its authorization for worldwide cultivation (Soria et al., 1998). The tubers of T. tuberosum are an important source of food for around 9 million people living at elevations of 2500 to 4000 m throughout the Andes mountains (King and Gershoff, 1987). Mashua is an annual, herbaceous climber that belongs to the family Tropaeolaceae which includes about 100 species. Tropaeo lum tuberosum is closely related to the garden Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus L. (Vaughn and Geissler, 1997). Tropaeolum tuberosum grows to over 1-1.5 m in diameter and 0.5-0.8 m high with slender and cylindrical aerial stems. Both erect and prostrate forms of mashua are known. Mashua has alternate, circular, peltate, 3- to 5-lobed leaves, and glaborous, twining stems that attach themselves to other plants by tactile petioles (NRC, 1989). The flowers are long-stalked, solitary, axial, bisexual. The color of the flowers err from dark yellow, orange, and scarlet. The fruit is a schizocarp with three indehiscent carpels that contain joined seeds lacking endosperm (NRC, 1989, Torres et al., 1992). The seeds are abundant and viable at maturity although since mashua is propagated asexually galore(postnominal) asexual forms have arose which occasionally set seed.The tubers of Tropaeolum tuberosum are produced on axillary stolons which annex to form terminal, elongate tubers which are slig htly roughened from enlarge scale leaves (Sperling and King, 1990). The tubers vary in color from white to yellow with occasional variants that are purple or red. They are often striped or mottled red or purple, especially underneath the eyes. The flesh of the tuber is yellow (NRC, 1989). HistoryMashua has been cultivated since ancient times and tubers are often found in archeological sites (NRC, 1989). Pre-Incan pictograms representing potato, ulluco, oca, and mashua have been found which show evidence the importance of these tubers even in those times (Hodge, 1946).

Friday, May 31, 2019

Achilles: The Tragic Hero Essay -- The Iliad Essays

When researching heroes of classic literature it is impossible to ignore Achilles from The Iliad by Homer. Starting from the time that his mother Thetis dipped him in the River Styx, making his consistency practically invincible, it was obvious that the Greeks had a hero in the making (Achilles, 173). His physical strength and persistence to extinguish the Trojan society is untouched by every other figure in mythology (Achilles, 173). In The Iliad Achilles is not only a hero, but a tragic hero who experiences a downfall and realizes that it is a draw result of his actions. Along with this basic definition of what it means to be a tragic hero, there are also three notable characteristics. Tragic heroes portray fatal ignorance, are prompted by will or linguistic context, and are involved in a binding obligation (Merriam-Websters Encyclopedia of Literature, 1126). These three aspects put forward be synthesized into the idea that tragic heroes make one or more errors, res ulting from ignorance or a personal impediment and are obligated to live bug out their error(s) in the form of a downfall. Achilles in The Iliad by Homer is a tragic hero because he exhibits fatal ignorance, is prompted by will or circumstance, and is involved in a binding obligation throughout the entire poem. Achilles is a tragic hero because he displays ignorance towards his surroundings in The Iliad. At the initiation of the epic, Achilles is presented with not one but two fates to die gloriously at Troy or to live anonymously at home (Harris, 262). With this decision Achilles decides to give the Greek forces and go to war against Troy. This, of course, guarantees his pre-mature destruction and proves how illogical and unstable his mind was during this time, for h... ... made poor decisions that led to his downfall and could have easily prevented himself from his early death in the Trojan War this makes him a tragic hero in The Iliad. Works CitedAchilles. Epics for Student s. Ed. Marie Lazzari. Detroit Gale, 1997. 173. Print.Hamilton, Edith. Mythology Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Warner Books ed. mod York Warner, 1999. Print.Harris, Stephen L., and Gloria Platzer. Classical Mythology Images and Insights. 2nd ed. N.p. Mayfield Publishing Co., 1998. Print.Homer. The Iliad. Trans. W. H. D. Rouse. New York New American Library, 2007. Print.Knox, Bernard. Achilles. Classical and Medieval Literature Criticism. Ed. Lynn M. Zott. Vol. 61. Detroit Gale, 1990. 129-50. Literature Resource Center. Web. 11 Oct. 2015.Merriam-Websters Encyclopedia of Literature. Springfield Merriam-Webster, 1995. Print.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

Misleading Perfume and Cologne Advertising Essay -- Advertising Market

Misleading Perfume and Cologne Advertising You sit down to watch hotshot of your favorite TV shows one night and you see it, one of those smell commercials. On the screen you see a fine woman walking up a flight of stairs in an elegant dress with diamonds hanging from her ears and neck. Her face is a picture of perfection, with a slight hint of a beautiful smile. Entering on the left of the screen is a man in a black tuxedo he wraps his arms around her and kisses her passionately on the lips. They both look at the screen and smile. On the bottom of the screen is a small bottle marked with a label of a placeable perfume company. Now coming back into reality from the mesmerizing commercial, consider what claim this perfume has to most of the typical consumers of this product. A consumer may wear the perfume while at a nightclub in order to attract some attention from members of the opposite sex. However relying on only the fragrance to bring up them attractive to o thers may not achieve the desired effect. Even though smell can be a very powerful sense, it does not affect desirability as much as we would like to ideate. In fact advertisers usually spend millions of dollars in order for these commercials to create ideal images for the perfume or colognes effect. Most cologne or perfume commercials are misleading because they try to portray an image that their scent, and their scent alone, will create effect that are often unrealistic. Some common ploys cologne and perfume companys use are that their product will make one spirit good about themselves, make one look gorgeous and make one desirable to members of the opposite sex. Take for example the advertisements for Axe body spray, in whic... .... These commercials often portray unrealistic situations and reactions, which may mislead the consumer into believing the product will have an affect beyond the sense of smell. The most awful olfaction scents could be the top selli ng cologne or perfume if advertised in a way to catch the attention of the audience. A recent cologne ad did a set of commercials utilizing this statement, scent is one of the strongest ties to memory how do you want to be remembered? This sentence is evidence that the advertisers are trying to make you think that if you buy their product you will be remembered any time that someone smells anything similar to that product. Most perfume and cologne ads rely on half-truths As removed as shopping for fragrances I might suggest that you go with a scent that you yourself enjoy and dont rely on others to enforce your judicial decision with false advertising.