...to come alongside Dana on her treacherous journey to reveal the complexities and harsh realities of the past. But Kevin and Dana know they can’t change history. They say: “We’re in the middle of history. We surely can’t change it” (p. 100); and “It’s...
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...Have you ever realized how harsh American slavery was back in the days? Imagine if you had a family and then you were bought by someone else to do work for them. How would you like it? Just think about it while I talk about American slavery in the early 1830's. Being beaten overly several times only because your not doing something right or maybe if not doing enough work. It was harsh for slaves, it was a harsh reality. In the early 1840's there was a 2 billion slave industry, and 90% of African American were slaves. Families were separated but to oppose that they created a family network."enslaved African Americans established a network of relatives and friend." Children were sold to others and separated by their parents and they would never being seen again. Selling children was illegal but people did it anyways. If you were black you were considered a slave property which had no rights. In the early 1840's slaves where repeatedly whipped for several things. They were whipped if slaves did no work or even very little work and sometimes when slaves ran away."The most common punishment for captured runaways was whipping."...
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...Everyone dreams of their fantasy world, a place where each aspect of life is how they want it. Foroung David Sedaris this consists of a life without his six sisters and a rich, prestigious family. In his memoir “Chipped Beef,” Sedaris expresses his distaste of reality by contrasting his dream life to his actual life through the use of juxtaposition, hyperbole and sarcasm. Sedaris emphasizes his unhappiness with his common life by juxtaposing the first half of his memoir with the second half through tone. The shift in tone in the middle of the piece emphasizes the contrast of Sedaris two worlds. While writing about his fantasy, Sedaris describes his family's physical attributes by saying, “... the people at NASA want to design a lunar module based on the shape of our skulls. Our cheekbones are aeronautic…” The reputation of NASA and logical thought paired with the humorous idea of having space crafts designed after a skull creates a...
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...brothers, brings the world’s most celebrated, philosophical theories to light as they attempt to postulate a binding remedy. The first of these theories dates past 380 BC, when Plato crafted his allegorical masterpiece, “The Cave,” which denotes a metaphor contrasting the manner in which man perceives reality. The second involves French philosopher Rene Descartes and his recognized dissertation, “Meditation,” which also proposes a distinctive perspective on the issue. A comprehensive study of the philosophical concepts of “The Cave” and “Meditations” and their manner of manifestation in The Matrix allows one to broaden and enhance his understanding of reality. First of all, one can find several analogous elements when comparing the three works. Each of these revolves around the concept that the illusions man accepts as truth drastically differ from reality. This reality is then unveiled in distinct, but related journeys, which involve a source of deception and a series of logical, enlightening experiences and steps. These steps include a progressive doubt, a means of escape to find truth, a common agony in facing truth, and a growing acceptance of reality and the altered life it comes with. In The Matrix, an average computer programmer, Neo, is led to a company of insurgents led by the valiant Morpheus. The mysterious leader offers him a radical choice—swallow the red pill to learn the truth about the Matrix or swallow a blue pill to return to the artifice of his familiar world...
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...diction, and mood to convey the harsh realities of life and death while living and working on the sea (to the reader). Usually, authors like to include flowery passages about the beautiful wind and water when they write about the sea. Instead, Guterson writes about his characters vomiting and drowning. He is conveying to the reader the harshness of life on the sea by depicting (how) the sea gives life (the fish) and also takes life away (Carl). He conveys the harshness by using words like "cold" and "frozen" to (describe Carl. The) fisherman also becomes "hard" and "frozen". (It is only through such (physical) adaption that (the fisherman and Carl are able to cope with) the harsh reality of their lives. By using beautiful imagery to talk about death, Guterson also creates a "coldness" in the reader. Imagery is used throughout the passage. For example he uses the skin of (Carl’s) collarbones, just above the highest waves, hued an icey but brilliant pink (to stimulate the reader’s imagination. He also adds to this image by describing the silver strings of Carl’s) hair. (Guterson uses) beautiful colors and descriptive words to show this man who is actually dead. The imagery is very (aesthetic), which is the opposite of what the author is actually describing(-) death. Normally, death is supposed to be really ugly. The literary elements of imagery, diction, and mood (are used) to convey to the reader the harsh realities of life and death while (of a seaman). ...
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...Many books have been written with open minded opinions describing some of the events that occur on a day to day basis. There are even some books that have shaped and America and have created the foundation to American Literature that have been banned. Everyone should be able to read about various situations even if it’s alarming and shows the reality of life itself, they would rather not to share the harsh reality of life or any mature content such as violence. In order to embrace the truth of life itself, you must be knowledgeable on the things that go on or have occurred. Books should not be banned, everyone should be able to read about various situations even if it’s alarming and shows the reality of life itself. Everyone should be able...
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...that the true nature around us is a harsh and cruel reality, one where the entirety of the Earth’s population is enslaved to a race of “machines.” The main character, Neo, is at first scared about everything he is now experiencing, questioning whether or not if he’s actually dreaming. However, he does come to terms with the fact that he is in fact living in the real world, and his new mission in life is to save as many people as possible from the lies of the machines. The Wachowski siblings, the two people who created the trilogy weren’t the first people to experiment with the concept of a “real” world outside of our “fake” reality. Philosophers dating back to the time of Rene Descartes, and even further back to the age of Plato, have toyed and pondered with this concept. Even though their concepts are all generally the same, the way they perceive it is very different. For example, the Greek philosopher Plato had this concept of a man who was trapped in a cavern his entire life and was physically restrained with tethers, so that he could not move. The only thing available to him was a fire that would cast shadows on the walls and he would only know these shadows for his entire lifetime. Plato goes on to explain what would happen if this man were to ever be freed from his shackles and brought out into the “real” world. Plato determines that he would need to slowly become accustomed to the new world, and even though this new world may be harsh, there would be more hope in the “real”...
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...As a set and/or lighting designer, what effects would you want to create for your audience in Act 1 and Act 2? Explain how your set design/lighting design would change from Act 1 to Act 2. A Doll’s House by Henrick Ibsen is an iconic play expressing harsh truths on social rules and etiquette in the late 1800’s. The play allows a simple yet symbolic set and lighting design – forcing the audience to think and question the play writes intentions as well as the interpretation of the director. The play is over a period of three days; Act 1 is on Christmas Eve and Act 2 being over Christmas day –the set changes over both acts in small but significant ways allowing the audience to understand the detrition of the perfect reality in which Nora lives by. As a set or lighting designer, I would want the audience to experience a tense, chilling and abrupt atmosphere that illuminates the distorted reality, which is being broken slowly. As women during the late 1800’s where not meant to become involved with the dealings of money and business – it was the man’s job. By doing this Nora has brought on a sense of shame and disgrace to her family, as Helmer is lead to believe by the influence of society that he can no longer control his wife. In Act 1, Ibsen indicates to the set and lighting designers how he wishes the play to be set up. From the stage directions I am able to understand that the atmosphere within the opening scene of the play should be ‘comfortable and tasteful’ but ‘not...
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...Innocence is a state in which everybody thinks the world is perfect, people are perfect, and life is pink. It is what people lose as they mature. When experiences come and take away innocence, people change profoundly and it can be hard for them to handle the turning points in their lives. In Toni Cade Bambara’s “The Lesson” and Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “American History”, the two young girls from poor neighborhoods experience the harsh realities that change the way they see the world and people around them. In “The Lesson”, Sylvia realizes her social status and the inequality in the world when Miss Moore takes her and her friends to a luxurious toy store. In “American History”, Elena faces a harsh truth that she lives in a world where people like her are treated and judged by their ethnicity. Though both Sylvia and Elena realize their lower class statuses, Sylvia accepts that truth with resistance at first and then high determination, while Elena accepts it with shock and grief. The two girls accept the harsh reality in different ways, just like how they appear in the stories. Silvia is a leader of a group of underprivileged children, lives in a poor neighborhood. She speaks the language that indicates how tough she is. She also has saucy attitude towards people when she finds “everyone was old and stupid or young and foolish”. One day, Sylvia and her group are taken to a luxurious toy store for a lesson by Miss Moore, the lady with “nappy hair, proper speech and no makeup”...
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...Roughly over 200,000 Jews died in the Jewish Ghettos. Jewish Ghettos were a harsh environment to live because of overcrowding, hunger, disease and the cold weather. However, the Jews still found ways to help each other survive these horrible conditions. Conditions in the Jewish Ghettos weren’t that great. One reason is the Jewish residents were very packed and crammed together. For example, the article “Ghettos” states that “In Warsaw, more than 400000 Jews were crowded into an area of 1.3 square miles.” This shows that Jews were crowded and packed into a small area, with no space or anywhere to be free. Another reason that the conditions weren’t liveable in the Jewish Ghettos is they experienced severe hunger. For example, the article “Life in the Ghettos.” states that “Children often lived on the paths of the ghettos, begging for bits of bread and many starved to death.” This shows that Jews barely had enough food to live on which resulted in severe starvation and even death. In conclusion, Jews experienced harsh and unlivable conditions throughout their life in the ghettos. Jews died in unforgettable ways in the ghettos. One way the Jews died was from disease. For...
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...Likhitha Reddy Professor Ervin Honors Special Topics: Films of Terry Gilliam May 6, 2103 Escape from Reality The modern world is plagued by the departure from an idealistic and imaginative state of mind into a realm of superficial social anxieties. Director Terry Gilliam, an American-born British director and member of the comedy group Monty Python, displays the theme of the rejection of pragmatism in favor of imagination in many of his movies. The theme of escaping from mundane reality into an alternative, inspired universe is most prevalent in his films Time Bandits (1981), The Fisher King (1991), and Tideland (2005). In Time Bandits, escape is more physical than mental as inspired pre-teen Kevin leaves his mundane life and consumerism-oriented world for a taste of adventure. The Fisher King presents a much different type of escape- Parry is a man who witnesses the murder of his wife and falls into a catatonic state only to emerge as a man who abandons his old life, including memory of his late wife, in order to find the “Holy Grail,” a worthless trophy that he sees in a magazine. Tideland is depicts another mental escape scenario and tells the story of the young daughter of two drug addicts in perpetual denial of her abused state who is aided in her fantasy world by doll heads that she wears on her fingers. Whether physical or mental, escape can provide a temporary panacea, but the problem with it is that one must always return. Time Bandits, released in 1981, was Gilliam’s...
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...for transforming the Wehrmacht from merely a highly efficient and professional military organization into an extremely politicized armed forces motivated by National Socialist ideals. Bartov argues four distinct yet related theories which, when taken together bring insight into the Nazification of the Wehrmacht in ultimately becoming Hitler’s Army. His arguments first highlight the war experience through the de-modernization of the Wehrmacht particularly on the eastern front along with the social organization relating to the destruction of the ‘Primary Group’. These factors resulted in the Wehrmacht to compensate through the ‘Perversion of Discipline’ which directly attributed to many war crimes along with harsh punishment of its own soldiers. Finally, the distortion of reality through propaganda all shaped the soldiers perception of the war and ultimately allowed Hitler to assume total control of the Wehrmacht. Murray Sager argues that the Wehrmacht supported Hitler, not just in gratitude, but because the Wehrmacht closely identified with the aims of National Socialism (Sager, 2010). Furthermore, Wolfram Wette argues that the Wehrmacht’s long-standing prejudices against Jews, Slavs, and Bolsheviks made it a willing accomplice to Nazi aims (Wette, 2008). Samuel Newland points out that from the beginning of the National Socialist era, Hitler's generals were not in opposition to his schemes but supported him, further showing a Wehrmacht commitment...
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...creates a blurred focus of the piece at times, but displays the harsh reality of her students. From an outsider’s perspective, it is hard to go on just the things that Beatty says. When the students speak of the situation, the reader connects and is opened up to their world. With ethos, pathos and logos all being present in this essay, the use of pathos is very strong while her ethos lacks for this topic. Beatty’s impactful details creates an emotional attachment to the reader while establishing a lack of authority of speaking on the subject. The strong pathos Beatty creates comes from the diversity of the two worlds she is experiencing on a daily basis. She is a middle-class, white, college educated woman trying to understand the world her students come from every day. This contrast of society can be seen when money is collected for murdered students and “all the other students gave change”, while she “tried to remember to bring a twenty dollar bill to school”. Readers are emotionally drawn towards the students because of this contrast. The small details display how willing the students are to help a struggling family with the little that...
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...she announced her disgust at his homosexuality suicide marks the end of Blanche’s sexual innocence) * drinking problem * Stella’s older sister * moves into the Kowalski home in New Orleans * destitute * has had many lovers (strong sexual urges) self-esteem depends on many for happiness * avoids reality(snobbery hide her poverty and indignity) * throughout the play her self-image and sanity crumble End: Stanley rapes her(destroys rest of mental and sexual esteem) and commits her to an asylum Stella Kowalski: * Around the age of 25 * Blanche’s younger sister * Mild character * Married to Stanley Kowalski (robust sexual relationship violent and renewing) and pregnant * Torn between her sister and her husband (stands by Stanley in the end) Stanley Kowalski: * Stella’s husband * Working-class * Example of vital force * Loyal to friends (Steve, Pablo, Mitch), passionate to Stella, cruel to Blanche * Polish ancestry( represents new heterogeneous America Blanche doesn’t belong to them, she is from an old social hierachy) * Fought in WW2 * Wishes to destroy Blanche’s social life * Beats his wife and rapes Blanche (BUT no remorse and still the proud family man) * Doesn’t like Blanche because of her aristocratic past, the way she tries to fool him and his friend into thinking she is better than they are( investigations of her past, birthday gift, sabotage of her relationship to Mitch) *...
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...philosophers. Comparing the Matrix and Plato’s, the similarity is they both agree that the life we are experiencing is not as real as what it appears to be. It is simply an illusion and a life that we can question and doubt about. From Matrix’s story this happens when Neo ‘the hacker’ had a dream that made him think about the reality and the thought that there is something more to life. When Morpheus came and told him “that the world is an illusion, an elaborate system of deception perpetrated to keep people contentedly under control” (Wachowski & Wachowski, 1999). Neo then choose to eat the pill and see the truth that the human race is only relying on a machine to keep their bodies alive. Human beings are actually unconscious, therefore they are controlled by the machine. Because of this, what we see or do today happens because we are programmed into a computer simulation called Matrix. From Plato’s allegory, we see it when Socrates described men’s nature being as prisoners since childhood; being chained inside a cavern not being able to move their heads, but only looking. When one of the prisoners was released and was given the opportunity to see the light; and guided with what was going on. The human being that has seen the light will think what “he had seen before was all a cheat and an illusion. He will then want to turn toward real things” (Plato). He suggests that life or “reality to be nothing else than the shadows of the artificial objects.” From Descartes’...
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