...Tim O’Brien’s “How to Tell a True War Story” starts with the brief tongue-in-cheek statement, “this is true.” While most authors seek to build credibility with their reader, O’Brien actively undermines his own trustworthiness in order to convey the skepticism with which he believes audiences should treat all ‘true’ war stories. His most effective strategy for doing so is the interweaving of a potentially fictitious narrative within a formal essay, further developing “How to Tell a True War Story’s” message of disillusionment with the attributes characteristically attributed to war and the dubious nature of war stories by creating a sense of suspicion and general distrust between the reader and the speaker. As O’Brien interweaves narrative within his essay, such stories are...
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...Recovery Model in MFT Steven W. Place Northcentral University Recovery Model in MFT The Recovery Model Introduction If the famous quote by Heraclitus, “The only thing that is constant is change,” is true, then one must wonder how the mental health field resisted change for so long. In light of the modern age, characterized by scientific methodologies, the mental health field advanced rapidly. Amazingly, the human condition could be put to test, understood and categorized. Sadly, anything falling outside the “norm” became “abnormal.” Once a person was identified as “abnormal,” they were the lucky recipients of a label they carried with them for life, or until they “recovered.” Mental health labels carry with them a certain stigma that communicates to the person they are different, perhaps less of a person and that “normal” may never be a reality with their “illness.” Recovery would be based on becoming symptom-free, or at the very least, a significant reduction in symptoms (Gehart, 2012). The mental health field has experienced tremendous growth in terms of understanding the plethora of conditions people experience, as well as in treatment of those conditions. However, one thing remained unchanged until recently. The idea behind recovery shifted from coercive treatment to person-centered change (Onken, et al, 2007). Gehart states is this way, “instead of using the medical paradigm of disease, the recovery paradigm approached mental “illness” using a social model of disability...
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...civilization, a theory was constructed which proposed that everything on earth was made up of the four natural elements: earth, water, air and fire, which work simultaneously to create one united universe (Hebert). The symbolism concerning the natural elements plays a significant role within Timothy Findley’s The Wars, as he demonstrates an evolution of the archetypal symbolic nature of the elements. In this novel, a young Canadian troop by the name of Robert Ross is being studied by a researcher after his notable death. The novel entails that the reader follows him through his journey in the war and provides a personal opinion on his experiences throughout. Robert Ross, the protagonist of the story, is also seen as a character...
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... Teenagers today face intense social issues that can have serious effects on a person’s mental and emotional health. Jay Asher in his novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, uses a unique narrative to confront the consequences of these issues, specifically the effects of betrayal. The betrayal of trusted friends and confidants, can dramatically effect an individual’s life. To begin, the continual betrayal Hannah Baker receives from those around her cripples her ability to trust new people and even to trust herself. Hannah reflects on her relationship with Courtney, “I wanted to be wrong about you, Courtney. I did. I wanted you to see it as me picking you up so we could go to a party together. And that is very different from me giving you a lift” (Asher, 101). Courtney betrays Hannah by using her for a ride to a party to maintain her image as the ‘nice, popular’ girl. Another incident of betrayal comes when Zach steals Hannah’s personal messages in Peer Communications class. Hannah says, “It might not seem like a big deal to you, Zach. But now, I hope you understand. My world was collapsing. I needed those notes. I needed any hope those notes might have offered” (Asher, 165). This quote emphasizes Hannah’s suffering at the loss of personal messages that could have provided much needed encouragement and hope. The accumulation of the betrayals that Hannah suffers means that Hannah cannot trust anyone and create meaningful relationships; as a result Hannah committed suicide. Losing friends...
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...April 2014 The Contribution of Slave Narratives to American Identity Literature as a whole has contributed to the totality that constitutes American identity. It is a powerful tool because of its ability to create conceptions that shape the thoughts and ideas of its readers. It gives glimpses into history by the experiences of its characters; the power of suggestion and information implants ideas into the minds of those who care to explore its pages. From the literature of Native Americans to that of modern day authors, each category has developed a different facet of the definition of an American, and each is needed in its own unique way. The same is true of the writings of those who were forced into slavery in America, who came against their will and suffered under horrific circumstances. Their stories expand the definition of an American into broader territories and reveal the difficult journey that many faced as they endeavored to find their place in a country that championed liberty yet enslaved them. Writers like Harriet Jacobs helped jump-start a new genre in American literature that came to be known as the North American slave narrative which greatly contributed to the defining of American identity. The North American slave narrative was unique in that its authors went to great lengths to present their own personal narrative of their experiences while remaining in the confines of the genre expectations. The goal of these narratives was of course to end slavery; ironically...
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...Whale Rider Themes In the film the Whale Rider, the once complimentary narratives that governed the Maori culture: Gender, Identity, and Traditions are competing against one another. The fundamental elements of these narrative has stayed unchanged; However, some characters are interpreting these liturgies to their own personal narratives, causing conflict within the Maori Culture. Synopsis of film During a time of modernization, poverty, and the decentralization of the role the Maori culture play in the people lives, one local leader (Koro) looked upon Hope in a form of a prophet. According to the Maori's traditions, the ancient ancestor Paikea descendants: the eldest son are the rightful tribe leader and will centralize the community again...
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...The central argument of Ronald Takaki’s book is that Americans view history through a filter called the Master Narrative of American History. Takaki states that “ this powerful and popular but inaccurate story, our county was settled by European immigrants, and Americans are white” (Takaki, 4). The Master Narrative is a small minded representation of what America is and who they are which leads to generalized thoughts that people have on a day to day basis. “ Through this filter, interpretations of ourselves and the world have been constructed, leaving many of us feeling left out of history and America itself (Takaki, 5)”. Ronald Takaki delivers his argument by including personal experiences and secondary sources while analyzing different ethnic...
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...Christopher Columbus, Olaudah Equiano, and Arthur Miller together suggest that one of the defining aspects of American identity is more powerful groups taking advantage of the less powerful for personal gain. In the excerpt from Letters to Columbus, for example, Columbus reveals that he “did not sail upon this voyage to gain honour of wealth, …., for already all hope of that was dead. I came to your highnesses with true devotion and with ready zeal, and I do not lie,” (Columbus 6) which demonstrates the way that Columbus’ attitude changed through his many journeys to the West Indies. When Columbus added “I came to your highnesses with true devotion and ready zeal,” he was foreshadowing that his reasons for continuing to return to the West Indies...
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...Positive Psychology Areas of Focus in Relation to Interpersonal and Prosocial Behavior Carmen Amaya Park University 1. Abstract The concepts of Positive Psychology are explored through an intrapersonal, interpersonal, and pro-social lens using empirical research as the basis. The paper examines the history, intentions and scope of positive psychology in relationship to personal experiences and character traits that lead to personal effectiveness. The specific Areas of Focus examine the major principles of Positive Psychology and their importance with regards to; changes in emotional states, cognitive processes and experiences in juxtaposition with current research. The concepts and principles are then applied to current goals, plans and future application in respect to the workplace, environment and culture. Finally, the challenges, obstacles and unanswered questions are discussed in current applications of Positive Psychology. Keywords: Positive Psychology, resiliency, hope, theories, emotion, cognition 2. Positive Psychology Areas of Focus in Relation to Interpersonal and Pro-social Behavior Major Principles and Concepts The primary underlying assumption of positive psychology is that psychology should focus on encouraging people’s strengths rather than fixing their weaknesses (Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000) assert that as a new psychological paradigm, positive psychology rejects the disease...
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...I would categorize my senior year as one of wild progression when it came to my writing. Senior year mirrors my sophomore year almost exactly when it comes to just pure progression. In that sophomore year, I greatly improved in an area that had irked me for years, the organization of content, and I grew in other critical areas throughout the course of this year. While I would consider my writing far more refined than it was in 10th grade, there are still multiple core elements that I always work to improve. The first few journals last semester echoed the thoughts of a teen who refused to take risks in his writing, who couldn’t be told his faults without a fear of personal attack. Last year the majority of my writing was for AP courses, and...
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...defining specifically what is and what is not literature. Having grown up behind the screen of a computer, I feel as though I have had an opportunity to discover perspectives that were at one time available exclusively through writing, now through various media, but could I call them literature? I doubt any scholarly article would suggest that a video game could ever be considered literature, but what exactly is it that is lost by including images and interactivity with the same old words that have defined literature in English? Video games nowadays often contain narratives which are quite complex and fraught with emotional weight, but is it the forced perspective? Is it that writing alone leaves so much to the reader’s own view that any additional nudging in a particular direction of thought by the creator robs the audience of the ability to perceive freely? These may seem like absurd questions to you, but I do hope to better define the term while I study in your...
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...I’m not fond of reading books but Og Mandino’s The Greatest Miracle in the World had truly captivated my heart and I had found myself reading it over and over again. It is an amazing narrative revealing new secrets for one’s personal happiness and success. It has helped me to boost my self-esteem and to regenerate my desire for a better life that has been lost for some time. It has served as a reminder that I am THE GREATEST MIRACLE IN THE WORLD and that God has never intended for me to fail or to be unhappy. We live in a world that is engulfed with negativity and this book will be of big help to make a difference. If you feel you have lost all hope, this book will completely change your life. It will teach you that you are capable of performing the Greatest Miracle in the World. I already had given a copy of the book for a good friend and hopefully will I be able to give more to others. I highly recommend it to everyone. Best Lines God very often plays man. God will do nothing without man and whenever He works a miracle it is always done through man. Isn’t it ironic? We often think that man usually plays God. God sends people to help us and they serve as representation of Him for us to feel that He is always with us. Our mind is the greatest creation on earth and it can generate the most sublime happiness for its owner—or it can destroy him. Whatever we absorb in our minds will surely reflect in what we do. Yes, our thoughts run our lives. Thousands of thoughts stream...
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...Why it matters? It's a mystery of literature involving a man of words. Words which caused uproar back in 1789. The British readers were captivated by his personal experience of being enslaved at age 11, kidnapped from Nigeria, and brought into slavery of a New World in a terror-filled ship. Equiano's tale is viewed as an authoritative description of the villainous Middle Passage, one of the very first narratives from a slave, a story that gave the hatchling abolitionist movement a buzzing moral influence; except it may not be exact. Therein lays the mystery: Because if the gentleman who penned "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavas Vassa, the African" was not born in Africa, but rather born into slavery in South Carolina -- as Vincent Carretta suggests -- then who was he? Where did he learn to speak fluent Igbo? And how did he obtain such agonizing details about life aboard an 18th-century slave vessel? The air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains. . . . The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable. (Equiano, 1789) In that lies the controversy: Carretta's findings, detailed in his biography of Equiano, have ignited a blaze...
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...Africa through Theatre This paper sets out to explore how processes of theatre making employed by The Mothertongue project, provide spaces for women to remap their personal narratives. Mothertongue works from the premise that the development and subsequent performance of stories in theatrical processes affords women the opportunity to re-write and remap their personal narratives and in so doing insert their voices into the landscape of South African Theatre. In an attempt to redress the gender imbalances and androcentricism prevalent in post-apartheid theatre, this paper speaks to the relationship between theatre, liminality and communitas. I am interested in unpacking how collaborative processes of theatre-making provide spaces for women to remap their personal narratives. Remapping in this instance refers to processes of transforming lived experience through story. I address how, through engaging in ritual activities that are central to the stories performed, actors, audiences and the owners of the source stories are invited to physically participate in remapping and transforming lived experience. Linked to this is the choice of form(s) and how this affects or impacts on the performed stories as well as on the construction of performed rituals and ultimately on the processes of remapping personal narratives. I focus specifically on Mothertongue’s 2004 production, Uhambo: pieces of a dream. The production was an integration of theatre and visual art in the form of performances...
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...Personal Theory Exploration Sarah Haeck Bowling Green State University Growing Awareness “Knowledge is power.” -Sir Francis Bacon Knowledge is indeed powerful. It allows one to see things in more comprehensive ways. Knowledge doesn’t let one settle. It molds and evolves within someone. Knowledge pushes one to betterment. It can come from outside sources but always is processed and implemented within. As a counselor, knowledge is vital to the wellness and development of the client. Knowing who we are, where we come from, what influences us, and what makes us who we are, these are just some of the questions that help us discover ourselves. I have spent a great deal of time and effort understanding who I am and what goes into that. As well as how the situations and people around me have made impressions on my life. Then beginning to dealing with the issues that have come up because of these things. At the end of the day, I believe a few things to be true: relationships mold our existence, our spiritual lives affect us, and a holistic view and self-awareness are keys to growth. As I have traced the steps of several theories, one sticks out as primary to who I am – Existential-Humanistic Theory. Taking the essence of this theory and combining it with aspects of Developmental Counseling Theory and Family Therapy, I hope to have a comprehensive fit to my personality as a budding counselor. Adaptable and Practical Being highly spiritual makes Existential-Humanistic...
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