...Being Sorted in Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Basu states, “Whatever else they may do, all heroes of young adult fiction- and by extension, their readers- are eventually asked to consider the two great questions of adolescence; ‘Who am I now? And who do I want to be when I grow up?’ As they do so, they inevitably embark upon a quest for identity, an apparently innocuous pursuit that lies at the very core of the genre.” (The Pleasure 19) In each of the three books, the reader can see individual or groups of young adults having to unite to achieve a certain goal. In class Professor Walker discussed how rebellious many young adults become as they reach their mid-teens and twenties. Becoming rebellious as a young adult is often seen by our parents as a reckless, impulsive eruption of emotions from within that allow rash decisions to be made. However, in each of the young adult, dystopian novels being reviewed, the main characters are considered rebellious by the law makers and rulers even though they are pushing for change in their unjust society. This essay will discuss three dystopian young adult novels, Divergent, The Hunger Games and Unwind and how each of them reflects on possible futures for humanity and the way young people are called to respond to the changes in the worlds they live in. Before getting started with the novels themselves, getting a brief overview of dystopian societies in Young Adult fiction is necessary. In, Contemporary Dystopian Fiction for Young Adults: Brave...
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...Entrepreneur ambidexterity Ambidexterity = the ability both to explore and “search for new, useful adaptions”, and exploit through “the use and propagation of known adaptions”. This is vital to the survival and performance of organizations. Firms should maintain a balance between exploration and exploitation. There has been scant attention to what makes an individual ambidexterious. Several reasons warrant the examination of entrepreneur ambidexterity in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs): 1. Small business have limited resource endowments. Since exploration and exploitation compete for scarce resources, attention and organizational routines, the situation is likely to heighten the paradoxes facing entrepreneurs. 2. Most SMEs are owned and managed by one individual or a very small group of individuals: the owner-manager makes virtually all the strategic decisions. Ambidexterity: 1. Literally: the ability to use both hands with equal ease. 2. In management: used to refer to an organization’s ability to do two seemingly paradoxical things simultaneously: * To explore and exploit * Be efficient and be flexible * Align and adapt Distinction between exploration and exploitation (March): * Exploration: includes things like research, variation, risk-taking, experimentation, play, flexibility, discovery, innovation. * Exploitation: includes thing like improvement, choice, production, efficiency, implementation, execution...
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...an adult. But what happens if this question is no long applicable or even necessary? Dystopian novels remove this illusion of choice. In each of the novels I will address, all teenagers attend or participate in a ceremony whereby they transition from young adult to adult. The first series I will address is Scott Westerfield’s Uglies series, where youth undergo plastic surgery as their rite of passage. Maturation and growing up require endure body modifications to create same-ness and the perfectly pretty white race. Second, I will analyze Ally Condie’s Matched series, where social order to determined by sorters who decide vocation and spouses. All teenagers attend a ceremony where a person’s perfect match is determined by a computer program. Lastly, I will use Veronica Roth’s Divergent series to explore how the world is constructed by personality type. Youth choose to participate in factions that are determined by a psychological examination that detects a youth’s instinctual predilections when facing their fears. As readers begin to figure out the rules to this new society, they are challenged to make comparisons to their own world. We are forced to wonder whether or not, as educators, we reinforce stereotypical constructs of adolescence despite our interaction with seemingly critical texts. In the last few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of dystopian novels marketed to young adults. The story always begins in media res, where some kind...
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...Miss Drita Krasniqi 20A Cherrydown Avenue E4 8DP 07456409159 dritakrasniqi@live.com Profile I believe a meaningful life is about aiming high and gaining experiences in the different work forces. I aspire to become an accountant or psychologist in the future after graduation, however I would like to have a current job to gain experience. My school years have encouraged me to aspire high and achieve the best that I can and never give up. The school has helped me to enhance my cooperation and communication skills and the ability to learn new strategies. I am a hard working, enthusiastic individual with a positive attitude. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and have experience of dealing with a wide range of people from different backgrounds. I am a quick learner with the ability to think laterally, problem-solve and multi-tasking. i have the ability to meet deadlines and work well under pressure. I also have good planning and organisation skills and speak fluent Albanian. I hope you enjoyed what you have read and would really appreciate you taking me on. Experience Shine, Chingford Hall Primary School Teacher's Assisatant February 2013 – February 2014 During my time at Chingford Hall Primary School my main skills achieved is being able to apply my knowledge to help the children learn. I also learnt how to adapt my communication skills so the children can understand. Education Rushcroft Foundation School iGCSE English Language B (predicted) GCSE Rushcroft...
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...The three different forms of Dystopian texts we have looked at in class have definitely had an impact on my understanding of this genre. We are able to visualize how the dystopian society reflects our own society and are able to connect the genre to the social issues in our present world. In the article “How Dystopian Futures Are Merely Mirrors Into Our Own Society” the author comments: “After our appetite was recently satiated on Hunger Games, we are diverging our fingers to the next tasty literature meal: The Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Again we sink our teeth into a dystopian society and a bleak prediction of our future Earth. What these books never fail to dish up are the faults with society, humans and their failure to actually...
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...Creativity is one of the most difficult mental functions to study. While a concrete definition remains illusive, it has been established as a multifaceted phenomenon (Kitto, Lok & Rudowicz, 1994). One facet that is an important component of creative potential is divergent thinking (Vosburg, 1998), this is the ability to generate several alternative solutions to a problem. The mental processing involved occurs in such a way as to activate as many mental representations as possible, maintaining only a weak connection to the original stimulus (Molle, Marshall, Wolf, Fehm & Born, 1999). One of the more popular methods for assessing creative potential then, is through the administration of divergent thinking tests (Mumford, Marks, Connelly , Zaccaro & Johnson, 1998). In these tests people are requested to generate as many alternative answers as possible to a series of ill-defined, open-ended problems (Brown, 1989). The number of ideas used in answering the problem are counted, and can be taken as a performance measure of creative thinking. On the other side of the scale is convergent thinking. Here, very strong mental associations are maintained which upon activation come to a single conclusion that can only be either right or wrong , with a clear connection between the mental representation and the original stimulus (Molle et al., 1999). Thus, two opposite modes of thinking seem to exist, each serving a different function and each having tests that tap...
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...grouped into two main categories: Big-C Creativity and little-c creativity. Big-C encompasses mostly people with very unique talents and/ or skills (Mozart, etc) and scientific discoveries, paradigm shifts, etc. Little-c is a term for a much more widespread kind of everyday creativity. For example finding new ways to use ordinary items. A more specific example: turning a car into a sauna. Little-c creativity is the kind of creativity that everyday life in schools should pay attention to and develop. The type of thinking that is associated with creativity, is divergent thinking. It often happens spontaneously and generates lots of ideas, associations, etc. Unfortunately, mostly only convergent thinking has traditionally been encouraged in most school subjects. Convergent thinking follows certain steps to find the right answer. It is a myth that only art, music, crafts, etc can develop student´s creativity and divergent thinking. It can also be done for example, during a physics, chemistry or math lesson. Finding solutions...
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...thinking involves all of these thinking styles, plus fluency, flexibility, and originality. Let’s say that you would like to find creative uses for the millions of automobile tires discarded each year. The creativity of your suggestions could be rated in this way: Fluency is defined as the total number of suggestions you are able to make. Flexibility is the number of times you shift from one class of possible uses to another. Originality refers to how novel or unusual your ideas are. By counting the number of times you showed fluency, flexibility, and originality, we could rate your creativity, or capacity for divergent thinking (Baer, 1993). Divergent thinking is widely used to measure creativity. In routine problem solving or thinking, there is one correct answer, and the problem is to find it. This leads to convergent thinking (lines of thought converge on the answer). Divergent thinking (see ✦Figure 1,...
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...A text is shaped by the circumstances in which It was composed, this is certainly true of Michael Parkers Doppelganger. Parker s 2006 Dystopian novel illustrates the ideas of thirst for power and darkness within humanity as the protagonist Andrew is placed in a dystopian parallel of his own world. These ideas reflect the major concerns of late 20th century Australian society. Parker examines deeper issues and illuminates universal aspects of the human condition. Parker exposes the potential for the darker side of humanity in Doppelganger, reflecting issues of his context. Cleary derived from themes in modern literature, such as Golding's "Lord of Flies" which examines the conflict between two competing impulses in all human beings, the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully and follow moral commands opposed to acting selfishly to gratify ones immediate desires. The darker side of humanity is introduced through Andrew’s character, an ordinary Australian teenager governed by his philosophy "don’t disturb the world and it won’t disturb you”. Andrew finds himself incapable of standing up for what he knows is right and this is exemplified early in the novel when Josh in an act of unprovoked evil, tears apart miss swains photograph. Andrew, convinced he is “hardwired” to be compliant with josh, aids his vindictive nature as it is easier than standing up for what he knows to be right. Andrew discovers his own darkness in the parallel Sydney, under the influence of mind altering...
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...Dystopia Dystopia is often a society set in the future that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, often under the control of some form of government but not always. A dystopian society can also be a planned structured society in which the conditions of life are deliberately made miserable. Some examples of these can be characterized by poverty, oppression, violence, disease, scarcity, and/or pollution for the benefit of a select minority or some unnatural societal goal. I am going to discuss how the short story “The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson and the film Demolition Man directed by Marco Brambilla exhibits dystopian. In the short story “They Lottery” the author makes a society where the town people are willing to kill each other in order to preserve a their idea of balance and success. The town in "The Lottery,” have employed what they sees as the fairest way to continue this ancient tradition. “The Lottery” is a story of misguidance and ultimate horror. The way the plot is structured takes the audience from one extreme (a very sunny, happy day) to another (a ghastly murder). The town is described as a simple and beautiful one, with children running and playing, happy to be out of school for the summer. The reader is led to believe that everything is perfect and the community is gathering for a raffle of some kind. After all, the story’s title is “The Lottery”. Lotteries have a positive connotation in most peoples’ mind. Lotteries are usually grouped...
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...In cinematography and literature, dystopia is definitely not a new genre. In different novels, dystopian worlds have been elaborated, such novels include; ‘1984’ by George Orwell, ‘We’ by Zamyatin Yevgeny whose known for his stylistic and ideological contemporary dystopias, and ‘The Time Machine’ by Herbert Wells – the novel demonstrates the weird symbiosis of Eloi and Morlocks. In the side of cinematography, films/movies such as 12 monkeys, V for Vendetta, The Matrix and Brasilia have demonstrated the dystopia genre. However, dystopia has regrettably turned into a popular genre over the years. This is as a result of the one-dimensional, flat and simplified state in characters, storylines and style in the present dystopian movies. The Hunger...
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...YA Dystopian Steffan Larsen’s chief points from the article “Why does dad not want to read ‘The Hunger Games’” Young Adult Dystopian fiction has grown as a genre and continues to evolve. But not every generation follows the new genre. Steffen Larsen is giving his thoughts on, why YA Dystopian has not reached his generation, where as books such as Harry Potter have appealed to several generations, including his own. YA Dystopian is one of the biggest and most popular genres today, which is accomplished by hitting the right target group (the teenagers). Steffen Larsen argues why YA Dystopia has not reached his generation as follows: “But most of all- I think- the books tells about manipulation, newspeak and the limits of reality shows”. Here Steffen Larsen reveals his negative view on ‘The Hunger Games’ but also the genre YA Dystopia by using words as manipulation and limits of reality. Particularly the concept of a “reality show” does not have a good renown, especially not in the older generation, where Steffen Larsen belongs. Steffen Larsen’s criticism of ‘The hunger games’ and the genre, could be reasoned with “times have changed” as he also points out: “In the reddish seventies where you overturn capitalist’s and than every thing went good. That is not how it is anymore”. Furthermore, Steffen ironically praises Suzanne Collins for being the only one who tries to dissimulate a new utopia – a dissimulation from which...
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...Comparing the dystopian features of 'Lord of the Flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' 'Lord of the flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' are two dystopian novels that I'm going to compare. These two novels have got various dystopian features. Dystopia refers to a work of fiction that describes an imagined place or state where everything is unpleasant or bad due to terror or deprivation. Lord of the Flies is a very gory dystopian novel. This novel includes various dystopian features. One of them is greed which has been reflected by the behaviours and attitudes of the characters. Greed has been shown by Jack's obsession over killing the pig as once the pig escaped, getting it back and killing it was his only goal. He proclaimed that he was hunting for the group but his desperation to kill the pig said otherwise. This act showed his greed for pride as his ego got hurt when the pig escaped. Another way greed has been shown is by Ralph's desire to constantly be in charge and have control. This has been shown when Ralph first went with the hunter group he saw that the boys had started lazing about so in order to get control over them, he yelled at them to get back to work and light the fire. At denial, his ego got hurt and so he screamed at them until they agreed to do do. This reflects Jack's greed for authority and control over others. One other way in which greed has been shown is through Jack's intense and selfish desire for power. Jack's greed for authority and power has been shown...
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...D'Andre Mickens Mr. Gamwell E Block 7 April 2014 Imperfect Perfect World Some people believe that a utopian world may be better than a less perfect world, yet the imperfections of a utopian society realistically outweighs its ultimate goal of perfection. Perfection is defined as the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. When it comes down to it, a utopian society has many rules and regulations. Yet, if a so called perfect society is so perfect, then there should be no need for any rules or regulations. However, a Utopia's goal of perfection in itself is a contradiction, because of its goal of being "more perfect and less free" (Huxley 1). As a matter of fact a utopian society would be like a heaven on earth. At the same time there is not really a unified view of utopia. All views of utopia involves change which affects human systems and institutions. How can a society aim to be perfect when by definition freedom is needed in order to be perfect. In fact that's something people still find hard to understand and today's society. Have you ever ask yourself what is freedom,it's the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Foremost this is something they didn't have at the time of the utopian society. Well by definition a utopia is a perfect world where everything is prefect and equal but you have no freedom to do what you want; Basically your life is scripted like a book. However...
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...Introduction It was the year of 1516 when Utopia was brought into being by Sir Thomas Moore, and from then on to the 19th century, utopian fiction has experienced a development and a dramatic turn into just the opposite tone, dystopian. These two distinctive streams in British literature, with a same distant source, contain totally different settings—if the utopian novels have demonstrated the perfectly idealized future society for mankind, then the dystopian ones describe the least ideal society, and it is usually considered that a dystopia is the vision of a society in which condition of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war, violence, disease, pollution, nuclear fallout and/or the abridgement of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering, and other kinds of pain.1 As material civilization develops into a certain level and can be considered as more than sufficient, then the world is superior to spiritual civilization; however human spirit is the reflection and is controlled by the substances. So, in a highly-developed society with rich material life and high technology, human spirit indeed has no real freedom. Of course, flooding modernized technologies provide human beings a better living condition, but they are covering up an empty and weak spiritual world. Human beings are made to be squeezed to become the flat and instrumental existence surround by machines which makes them feel it is a perfect world. It is obvious...
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