...Heroes and Celebrities April 27, 2014 Heroes and Celebrity When looking up the definition of hero, I came across some slight variation. I looked up online the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s (n.d) definition an is defined a hero as “a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability” and an” illustrious warrior, a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities, a man that shows great courage, the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work.” The online Oxford Dictionary (n.db) defines a hero as “A person, typically a man, who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities: The chief male character in a book, play, or movie, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathize” Both sources cite the same definitions for heroines as well. The variations between the two online definitions is Merriam-Webster reefer’s to a hero as a mythological figure while Oxford simply refers to a hero as a person. When talking about a celebrity, some may confuse the definition of a celebrity with a hero, but the definition, according to Merriam-Webster is that a celebrity is the state of being famous or celebrated. This is not mention of outstanding achievements, quality of character, or displays of courage or is endowed with strength and abilities. Although the definitions don’t show the similarities, they do exist in our pop culture and the...
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...Daniel Holland April 13, 2014 Why We Love TV’s Anti-Heroes Is it possible today’s generation gradually evolved into an era in which selfishness and evil overpowers good? Over the past years society perceives the idea of a hero differently than it was perceived in the 21st century, nevertheless impacts our society hugely. It is no surprise why youth of today enjoy T.V. shows that are driven by torture, killing, drugs and drama. In fact these are among the T.V. shows with higher ratings. Hero is characterized as a person of good character who performs beneficial acts towards a community and influence an individual self-concept in a good manner. Today, the new hero is the anti-hero and his morally reprehensible conduct is excused by a good cause turning evil into good and at many times it is praised. In “Why We Love TV’s Anti-Heroes” Stephen Garrett describes this world as one with a strong desire and acceptance for anti-heroes. Garret uses ethos appeal by appealing to society’s moral and values. Garret states, “The moral compass is spinning on his axis” (320). Garret believes the audiences easily sympathize and identify with these despicable TV personalities because they reflect society’s own moral ambiguity. As a result it reflects the actions and behavior in today’s culture. Anti-heroes of today are embraced by society because they are more relatable to today’s cultural morality because being extremely good feels unattainable, therefore this culture opts for the middle...
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...Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn. We can see Peter Beagles, an award winning american author, quote still apply to heros of now. From fictional heroes such as superman or real heros such as Nelson Mandela; both went through hardships. Superman lost his civilization and faced many difficulties when he was transferred to earth. Nelson Mandela faced the racism that took grip of Africa causing his rise to power to be a long and enduring journey. Even old heros of ancient times faced hardships making them the legends they are remembered as. In The Odyssey by Homer, the brave hero Odysseus, was loved by the people of ancient Greece. He goes through many hardships after winning the war at Troy....
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...African Americans Heroes Shawn Okelley Taylor COM/150 04/28/2013 Lee Eubanks Who is a Hero? African American heroes have a great impact in our society and are often not recognized for their great achievements. What kind of life did they lead? What was some of the problems they faced? And what did they do to make them well known. So, What does define a Hero and Heroism in today’s society? Black History month has often spoken upon famous African-Americans such as Martin Luther King Jr., Booker T. Washington, Harriet Tubman and George Washington Carver. Those legendary figures are certainly worth celebrating, yet there have been many other African-American men and women who achieved significant milestones for their race, and made significant contributions to society, but get little attention today. Such people as: Hattie McDaniel, Guion Bluford, Edward Bouchet, Fritz Pollard, Oscar Micheaux, Madam C.J. Walker and James “Cool Papa” Bell. Hattie McDaniel was actually the first black person to win an Oscar in 1940. Halle Berry who is well known made headlines in 2002 when she became the first African American to win an Academy Award for best actress, for her role in Monster’s Ball. McDaniel’s Oscar winning performance was as the character Mammy in gone with the Wind she was also regarded as the first Africa American to sing on the radio in the United States. McDaniel has two stars on the Hollywood walk of Fame honoring both her singing and film careers....
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...The concept of a hero has been interpreted in many ways throughout the ages an Odysseus is one literary hero that stands the test of time. There are many heroic traits that makes Odysseus in The Odyssey a hero even in today's world. The first trait that makes him a hero is Odysseus is hubristic which is one of his flaws. The next trait is he is stro In the Odyssey Odysseus portrays many traits that make him a hero such as his flaws. In multiple books he shows how hubristic or pride he is especially in book nine at the cyclops island. When Odysseus and his crew first arrived on the island Odysseus picks out a dozen of his best fighters to scope out the island. They find one of the cyclops caves and de themselves at home and “built a fire, set...
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...FLOODED WITH HEROES? The Australian hero: Positive role model or commercial media fabrication? Every individual needs a positive role model to look up to. Australia, as a young country, is endowed with many heroes who have achieved different feats at a national and individual level. Today heroism plays a central part in our cultural identity and spreads pride throughout the hearts of many as effectively as floodwaters spread water throughout the Lockyer Valley. We greatly admire and respect those whom we have acknowledged as heroic because of there actions. Do we not sometimes ask ourselves whether their efforts are even worthy of acknowledgement? We call a crazy bushman wearing a ‘metal bucket’ on his head a hero and a musician who can create a tune from a wobble board who does not even reside in this country an icon. The majority of these so-called ‘heroes’ have done little more than a superhero’s side-kick which in most instances is little to nothing at all. They have been honoured, for example, for their mediocrity or acts of terrorism. The criteria for a real hero have been corrupted and flushed away by today’s technological knowhow via the materialistic communication media. A hero can be defined as an individual of “distinguished courage or performance, admired for his noble qualities” [First definition, Macquarie Dictionary: p. 832]. Nobility is not a popular concept in the current materialistic cultures of today’s world. It is evident that this definition...
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...Oprah: A Modern Day Hero Raul Garcia COM150 Effective Essay Writing Lori Pommerenke University of Phoenix In today’s day and age, the word hero can have many definitions and interpretations. It is common to infer that a hero is a mythological creature or a fictional character with supernatural abilities and powers; but the word hero conceals a deeper meaning for today’s philanthropists and humanitarians. A perfect example of today’s hero would be Oprah Winfrey; a warrior that struggled against a horrific life but still managed to climb the tiers of success until reaching the highest pinnacle possible. “Hero” to many might sound like a word only used in sci-fi movies, but a real-life hero promotes peace, encourages education and success, and gives back to the world. After struggling against adversity in childhood, Oprah Winfrey now demonstrates a philanthropic lifestyle that sparks attention and admiration around the world. Oprah Winfrey was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 29, 1954. She was born into poverty to a mother who worked as a housekeeper and a father who was never at home. Even though she...
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...century. One might be surprised, however, to discover that stories are still being written in today’s societies that follow the elements of Aristotelian theory. One story written in relatively recent history is that of "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. which in many aspects, can be considered a Aristotelian tragedy. Aristotle described a tragedy as a story that consisted of a tragic hero and a plot that would generate fear and pity in its audience. In this story, fourteen-year-old Harrison Bergeron valiantly attempts to break free from an equality-based society, but is quickly denied by the authoritative force of the government. The most important element in Aristotelian tragedy is the plot of a story. Aristotle states in Poetics that a story must consist of a beginning, middle, and end (Aristotle, 7). "Harrison Bergeron" fits this description very well because the beginning, middle, and end can be clearly identified while reading the story. The story opens by giving a description of what the society people live in is like. "THE YEAR WAS 2081, and everybody was finally equal. They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way" (1). By reading this description of what life was like, one gets the idea that people lived in a totalitarian-based society. As the story progresses, the reader is introduced to Hazel and George Bergeron, who are watching a ballet program on their television when a special news bulletin...
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...A Circumstantial Hero: An Analysis of Heroism The word hero commonly provokes the image of a superhuman in one’s mind. A power stance coupled with a cape beautifully flowing in the wind somehow makes up a hero who is bigger, stronger and overall greater than the average man. However, if one looks beyond this fictional description, he can find the more realistic qualities of an everyday hero. These real-life heroes tend to be people who are brave and courageous; they take action when action is needed for the greater good of their surrounding people. With this being said, it is ignorant to declare one singular definition of heroism as every person, community, culture, and generation can classify a hero in a very different way. The qualities and characteristics of a hero are entirely circumstantial, and therefore are forever in flux. One of the many heroes of American history is Rosa Parks, often referred to as “the first lady of civil rights.” Many know Parks as a hero due to her act of defiance in 1955....
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...It is believed that throughout history many individuals who fought against corruption and inequity rose from the lower class. However, many of those who we consider heroes didn’t necessarily volunteer open handily; heroes aren’t born but rather made and their purpose of existence is to undue the wrongs and pave a better life for the poor. Suggesting that setting did play a big role in structuring the ideal hero, we can assume that those who lived in a third world country suffered most and probably had a higher chance of corruption and political issue. However, views change depending on the social class, those that fight for the people are looked as bad individual and is label as outlaws while those with powers and authority are treated and...
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...of today's television programmes are violent. Having said this, yes, television deserves to be blamed for the crimes of violence. It's definitely undebatable when the older generation voice out their dissatisfaction on the culture practised by the younger ones. Many murders happening these days are replicas of what we see on television. The film, for an instance, would exhibit a scene of betrayal that stirs up anger, that would eventually lead to a well-planned murder. A simple plotline indeed, yet, it agitates thousands of better ideas about the same murder in reality. Hitting on the point, I'd list CSI: Miami, NCIS: Los Angeles and Criminal Minds as few of the many television series that have been a craze of Malaysian teenagers these day. Seeing is believing. Focusing on today's generation, children are glued to the television. In spite of studying and playing - playing involving the physique , they'd rather become couch potatoes to entertainment. Through this 'entertainment' their minds are practically trained to imitate what they see. Quoting a typical scene from almost all cartoons, when A does something bad to B, B does something even worse in return, and A pays that back, and the cycle goes on and on. One of the best cartoons portraying this scenario I can think of is, Tom & Jerry. Finally, being all cool is the in thing these days. The main criteria for one to be considered cool, according to movies is that you must be a hero. Hero actually...
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...Beowulf vs. Achilles “They were combat causalities, brave men and women who risked their lives to safeguard our freedom. And they paid for our liberty with their lives” (Cannon). So many people die for the freedoms that the American person values. As society grows and becomes different the true heroes are becoming less recognized. What modern day people would say about today's heroes would be far from the brave, and courageous war soldiers. A very long time ago, there were two brave and courageous warriors, Beowulf of Denmark and Achilles of Greece. These two individuals reached the highest expectations and excelled at successfully leading their people in battle. Both amazing leaders and determined fighters, but they came from different backgrounds,...
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...In today’s world, police officers, doctors, role models and even super heroes are all examples of heroes. But the real question is; what is a hero? A vigilante who abnormally gains super-powers which then leads them to avenge crimes throughout cities and being role models for the young. Or an ordinary person who risks their life every day in order keep the societies safe from harm. According to Oxford Dictionaries, a hero is “A person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” What is your idea of a typical hero? In Frankenstein, the antiheroes move through specific stages on the hero journey/cycle, as it is a classic tale of a creature (monster), constructed by Victor Frankenstein from...
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...In this quote, Gerald W. Johnson is asserting that anyone can be a hero, no matter what you are made of, as long as there is a demand. In order to be a hero, according to Johnson, there just has to be a demand for one. In times of need, anybody can be a hero even if they do not possess the typical hero characteristics. To most people, a hero is defined as someone who is strong―physically and mentally―, brave, as well as powerful. However, Johnson believes that these characteristics do not matter when it comes to how a hero arises in society. Therefore, during times where society is in need of someone to guide or save them, anyone, even those who are considered the least qualified, can step up and be a hero because of the demand for one. This...
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...Heroes Beowulf is a very brave and courageous hero. Many people have different thoughts as to what a hero is. We all have one hero, be are they a real hero? In Beowulf, the character Beowulf is the hero to almost everyone in the story. A hero is someone you believe can do anything to save you or anybody. A hero is your role-model. Beowulf is a role-model because he is brave, aggressive, and boastful. He saves other characters and does almost everything he can to make everything okay. Beowulf is a hero. In the book, Beowulf embodies the ideal of Anglo-Saxon in many ways. He is very courageous and brave. He can do anything he puts his mind to because he is very brave. He wants to die with glory. He is an important national figure because he is a hero to so many people. What makes him boatful is that he is confident in himself; he doesn’t give up on anyone especially himself. Beowulf is brave because he is a thane (lord), he is a mighty warrior. For example, when he kills Grendel, they fought single hand-to-hand combat and Beowulf wasn’t afraid. Today’s heroes are different from the heroes in Beowulf because fictional heroes now have powers, they don’t only kill. Non-fiction heroes are usually someone who saves a life or do all they can to try. “Heroes risk life and limb to help others” (Eagly). Heroes in the past were also someone who risked their life, or did something life changing. Now-a-days, a hero is so much more and more known to everybody. “Heroism consists of...
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