Friday, November 29, 2019

Persian Society in Movies

Introduction Persian movies have helped reflect the situation in Iran. The political climate has played a central role in the movies. During the old days, freedom was curtailed in Iraq with several movies banned or censored. This is not strange in the Islamic countries where cultural fundamentalism is entrenched in the society. Moreover, western ideologies are subject to criticism.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Persian Society in Movies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Through religious bodies, movies were opposed as they revealed the nature of the political, social, and economic situation in Iran. Successive regimes have been suppressing human rights in the name of national security and the Sharia law. The influence of the regimes and the religious bodies exists today as famous movies have failed to depict the real situation in the country. Directors, opposing the standards set by the regimes, have been j ailed, or their movies censored. This paper will explain how Persian movies reflect the issues in the society. Discussion The Persian culture has been depicted in many movies. Most of these movies have enjoyed success despite the censorship that exists in the country. Films that succeed in the western countries and globally, lack a true reflection of the real political, social, and economic situation in Iran. In white balloon, the people of Iran are shown to face trouble like individuals in other countries. Moreover, these people have families and troubles similar to other countries. From the movie, the culture of Persia has philosophic and poetic sophistication. White balloon possesses a concrete, up-close, and complex view of the hardships faced by the Iranian minorities. Recent movies also reveal the impact of American occupation of Iraq. The Kurds freeing Iraq enter Iran voice vehement feelings concerning Saddam Hussein, the infamous dictator. Generally, most of the Iranian movi es depict a struggling society. Iran struggles to reconcile political choices with cultural traditions, thorny realities, and vaunted ideals. The movies are vital with this regard as they give a nuanced and rich view of challenges prevalent in Iran (Alizadeh, 2005). How the Society Was Treated In Old Days Prior to 1950’s, entertainment in the Persian society was limited to musicals and melodramas. Although the society enjoyed a commercial industry with a film festival because of releasing a high number of movies annually, the movies were devoid of social critique. Movies with negative connotations were banned or censored. In the 1960’s change permeated in the Persian society and the entertainment industry.Advertising Looking for term paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The cow is among the movies that brought modernist literature to the fore. The traveler depicted the cultural consciousness o f Persians. Nonetheless, the political landscape of this country changed with anti-Shah protesters supporting Ayatollah Khomeini, opposing themes in the movies. Traditionalists accused movies of being agents of cultural imperialism by the west. Subsequently, a cinema hall was set ablaze by the militants leading to the demise of 400 people (Cardullo, 2004). The Iranian revolution in late 1970’s changed the political climate, and this was reflected in the movies. Fundamentalism was entrenched in this society and the entertainment industry focused on cultural dominance. Authorities were wary of the development because cultural fundamentalism was a platform for anti-western sentiments. The Persian society of the aforementioned era was opposed to western ideologies. Religious conservatism demanded that the media was supposed to focus on the real issues affecting the society not western culture swamped with moral ills. Censorship for social dissent and political criticism reveals t hat Iranian citizens were oppressed by the regime. Iranian leaders adopted the Sharia law that curtailed certain rights and freedoms. The movies directed in this era could only focus on the positive issues of the society or risk censorship (Cardullo, 2004). Modern Movies Persian movies have been used to reveal the real life situation in Iran in various eras. The most important periods focused in the movies are the revolution era and the post revolution era. The lives of people in Iran are scrutinized in the movies. Similar to other Islamic countries in various parts of the world, the country is under the leadership of successive regimes. This leadership if characterized by control of the media. These regimes determine how individuals carry out their activities. Although freedom is not denied in the country, there are laws that limit human rights. The current political system in Iran is based on 1979 constitution that caters for equal economic opportunities for citizens (Moruzzi, 200 1). The Separation is a 2011 movie depicting the contemporary social situation in Iran. As opposed to the cultural fundamentalism depicted in the old movies, the separation illuminates a modern Iranian society that has embraced modernity. Divorce is no longer a major issue as shown in the movies. Razieh is a young woman who decides to apply for a banking job without consulting her husband. Such a move may have been opposed vehemently in the traditional Persian society whereby women had no priorities and had to comply with the decisions made by their husbands.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Persian Society in Movies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This movie shows the gains achieved by women in Islamic countries. From the movies, Iran is depicted as a country with powerful and influential religious institutions. These institutions determine the law and entrench traditions, which may not be in line with the requirements of human rights. Mosques are frequented as worship centers and played an instrumental role in the revolution that occurred in Iran (Moruzzi, 2001). Before the revolution elucidated in the contemporary movies, Iran was entirely preservative of its traditions. These traditions were followed and respected by all individuals. Similar to a number of Islamic countries, Iran had regarded some behaviors taboos. Religion, power, and sexuality were sources of emotive debates. Religious and political leaders ensured that individuals committing crimes in connection with the aforementioned institutions were heavily punished. The forms of punishments meted on these individuals ranged from execution, imprisonment, to ex-communication. Religious matters remain sacred and not subjects of debate in social domains (Moruzzi, 2001). The effects of Islamic Leadership on the Persian society The Shia regime in Iraq had a brutal, extravagant, and oppressive legacy. This legacy is synonymous wi th ravaging economic challenges witnessed in the early 1990’s. The oppressive regime has been elucidated in movies. Because of the oppression, demonstrations were staged in 1971 to protest about the economy’s worsening conditions. Queer economic policies and mismanagement of resources in Iran led to increase in inflation. The oil boom did not benefit the nationals because foreigners assumed control of oil reservoirs (Pak-Shiraz, 2011). On one hand, the rich are the political elites and the families of the leaders, who lead extravagant lives oblivious of the ramifications on the economy and the lives of the other citizens. On the other hand, a large proportion of the population wallows in poverty. According to Pak-Shiraz, (2011), about a million individuals in this country live in extreme poverty in total contrast to the political elite. The riches accumulated by the leader during the time of the revolution were sources of discontent among the Iranian populace. These se ntiments could not be revealed in the movies because the regime was against movies that depicted leaders in a negative way. The political situation in Iran worsened as factions emerged to ameliorate the economic conditions. These factions were met with strong resistance by the regime with leaders becoming victims of political assassinations. Even in modern Iran, mass unrests are dealt with ruthlessly. The genesis of the revolution emanated from the death of leaders such as Mostafa. This activist was killed in 1977 after which demonstrations erupted.Advertising Looking for term paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More After the revolution, Khomeini became the supreme leader. The Shah regime fled the country after recognizing the failure of their policies. Despite measures to quell the demonstrations, people continued to demonstrate without fear. Khomeini started with constitutional amendments to remove outdated laws. The leader ensured that a new constitution was available by the end of the year. In the new constitution, there were policies meant to improve the economy (Pak-Shiraz, 2011). Although most of Iranians oppose westernization, the revolution era depicted the sentiments in an unprecedented scale. Iranian authorities assumed control of the American embassy and chased all employees. Saddam Hussein, the former Iraqi dictator took advantage of a weak Iran state and extended the country’s borders. Iran became insecure and western nations withdrew their cooperation. The western nations may have helped the country defend its boundaries. The war between Iran and Iraq led to the demise of a million Iranians. Islam was transformed into a strong political movement. Similarly, in the contemporary world, Islam has been politicized (Cardullo, 2004). Following the revolution, the judicial and social systems in Iran underwent changes. Women were discriminated in the previous regimes but the revolution enabled them to be at the forefront of politics in Iran. Family rights were also guaranteed under the legislation. Other rights not observed in the previous regimes were property ownership, girl education, the right to receive a fair remuneration in the workplace, and payment during the maternity leave. The women who had been denied their rights under the excuse of the Sharia law embraced the aforementioned achievement. In the previous years, women were not supposed to complain and husbands were authorized to punish them (Cardullo, 2012). There are concerns that the laws formulated to cater for the rights of women in Iran have not been implemented. The fundamentalism in this s ociety has affected the progress of women emancipation. Cardullo (2012) reveals that there is no improvement on the issue of women rights because women are still subjects of discrimination and abuse. Moreover, the contribution of the women is much lower than the contribution of their male counterparts. Insecurity in Iran compels women to shy away from public places because of potential attacks by assailants. Nevertheless, Iranian women benefit from the income of the husband. This safeguards their economic position if they are divorced. This property is not given to the wife if still married but only after the divorce, process has been completed. Several movies have been directed to illuminate the predicament of the Iranian woman. The previous films depicted women as inferior beings but the contemporary film industry in Iran is trying to reverse the situation. Changes in the Iranian society have led to the emergence of female movie directors. Rackshan Bani-Etemad is a revered actor, screenwriter, and film director. Bani-Etemed started acting at 17 years. The Apple was her first film. This film depicted the plight of the woman and her position in the modern Iranian society. The marriage system in the country has not changed and women are at a disadvantage on matters concerning divorce. The divorced woman cannot be remarried. Furthermore, a woman cannot have a sexual partner apart from the husband. Extramarital sexual affairs are stable grounds for divorce. In contrast, men are allowed by the law to have as many partners as possible. This cannot form a stable ground for divorce. The women’s duty is to gratify the needs of their husbands and bear children. The inability to meet the aforementioned needs forms a solid ground for a divorce to take place. The Iranian society has a controversial form of marriage known as the sighel. This is a short marriage and a contract between the man and the woman. The woman stays with the man for sexual gratification and he r family gets financial support in return. In this arrangement, the woman gets economic benefits and is not looked down on for agreeing to the arrangement. Moreover, this form of marriage enables women to avoid a permanent marriage, which has laws and bounds similar to a prison (Cardullo, 2012). The film industry in Iran over relies on foreign directors. This feat has been a source of criticism from the viewers in Iraq and abroad. These viewers have attacked the films for being apolitical and failing to make explicit criticism of the regime in Iran and its abuse of human rights. The White Balloon has received the tag of being sentimental and failing to articulate the social situation in the country. However, Cardullo (2012) reveals that movies cannot always take a political stand. This movie succeeds in bringing to light the plight of cultural minorities in Iran. The director fails to use political connotations because censorship is still rife in Iran. Through domestic regulations, directors cannot focus on the political causes of issues afflicting the Iranian society. A number of directors have been arrested for reflecting the Iranian society in a negative way (Cardullo, 2012). Conclusion To conclude, the various facets of the Persian society have been scrutinized through movies. Nevertheless, politics and religion play a huge role in determining the themes in these movies. From the old days, cultural fundamentalism was entrenched in this society, which vehemently opposed the western ideologies. Because of resentment from the militants, movie houses were burned and several movies censored. In Iran, the leaders oppose any criticism through brutal crackdown. During the demonstrations that occurred in the revolution era, several people were killed by the regime. The influence of politics and religion in the media is illuminated by the lack of political and religious themes. Directors of movies with political and religious themes have been jailed. This is because the political leaders know that negative depiction of the leaders in the movies can cause protests and demonstrations. References Alizadeh, H. (2005). A Persian Odyssey on Your Small Screen. Fellowship, 71(1), 15-15. Cardullo, B. (2004). In Search of Cinema:Writings on International Film Art. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s Press. Cardullo, B. (2012). World Directors and Their Films:Essays on African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern Cinema. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. Moruzzi, N. C. (2001). Women in Iran: Notes on film and from the field. Feminist Studies, 27(1), 189-100. Pak-Shiraz, N. (2011). Shi’i Islam in Iranian Cinema:Religion and Spirituality in Film. New York: I.B.Tauris. This term paper on Persian Society in Movies was written and submitted by user Temperance L. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Dreams in Poverty essays

Dreams in Poverty essays Today in the U.S.A. alone, some 29.9% of female-headed households live in poverty. In a home where chores are nothing but your everyday routine, and going to work means putting food on the table, you sometimes find little or no time to dream, or think about what it is you want to do with your life. Today, dreams are common in many poverty stricken homes, mostly because the person wants to get out the poverty scene, and into a less stressful environment. In the poems The Tenement Room: Chicago by Frank Marshall, Kitchenette Building by Gwendolyn Brooks, and the play Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, poverty and dreams are both very apparent in the authors eyes. I believe that the Tenement Room: Chicago, Kitchenette Building and Raisin in the Sun are three completely different views from three very different share of emotions. First of all, I would like to begin with the comparison of The Tenement Room: Chicago and Kitchenette Building. In the poem the tenement room, I believe that the author was trying to describe that all he has achieved in life, was a run down, old room with nothing of any particular value. He also gives off the feeling that he is bitter towards the way he has had to live his life; hard working and aimless. However in the kitchenette building, things cheer up, just a little. In this poem, the author expresses that dreams are apparent, but seem to get muffled in the routine of everyday life. The two poems are similar in the idea that poverty is prevalent in both lifestyles. In the tenement room, the author seems to put forth no hope of ever opening the door out of poverty. On the other hand, the kitchenette building, the author gives the reader a glimpse of hope. Secondly, I would like to compare Raisin in the Sun to the examples I have given from the Tenement Room: Chicago ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Argument essay on organic food Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Argument on organic food - Essay Example Researchers who used grapes grown under similar conditions of the two contrasts did this. The findings by the researchers who advocate for organic food simply indicated a similarity in nutrient except for chemicals employed in the production process of the conventional food production, which affect humans and the environment. This criticism based on traces doesn’t hold much since the effects on humans is almost negligible except for the young babies farther, the chemicals used are regulated thus barely any gets to the ecosystem to the non intended use. More specifically, considering fruits and vegetables, the application of pesticides eliminates the organisms that may otherwise destroy the crops. The crop, therefore, survives attack by the organisms. However, residues of pesticides are left on the crops in most cases. These residues have a potential health risk in small amounts whereby children are said to be more vulnerable. To curb this, recommendation by environmentalists are usually done for the consumption the products that are less sprayed. Nutrition is said to be more in organic food compared to the ordinary foods. This is according to a French study. However, ordinary food may also have a high content of nutrients in case they are grown in soil rich in minerals. For dairy and meat products, organic meat originates from genetically engineered treatment or using antibiotics. As such, it is said that organic milk has more vitamin levels due to the feeding based on fresh grass and clover (Manuel 3). Father, according to the British journal of nutrition, organic milk has the potential to improve lactating mother’s milk. It is, in addition that, milk produced though through organic method that is generally better for the environmental. The argument behind this is that, through this method, toxins have no leeway into

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Article Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 5

Article Critique - Essay Example They also identify the environment used for the research, which was an Australian primary school. The data collected was primarily interviews with staff and students, observations conducted on the playground, and document analysis. The data was verified and tested via triangulation, member checking, and auditing. The most obvious drawback of this study is that it took place on a very small sample, a single primary school. Thus, it would be difficult to generalize the results of this study to primary school populations as a whole. The literature review is particularly well-balanced. Longaretti and Wilson note that most teachers perceive conflict as negative, but conflict is at the center of learning and development. This focus on the positive side of conflict helps the reader eliminate any personal bias he may have toward conflict before beginning the heart of the study. In addition, the authors use the literature review to briefly examine the types of conflict management that teacher s employ with students. After the literature review, the authors begin the discussion of their study. They note that the sample size for the study was small but explain that this choice was to concentrate in more depth on the issues as â€Å"insiders.† While the explanation is valid, it certainly does not rectify the problems that accompany a small sample size, such as skewing of data and limited applicability of conclusions to other populations. In examining the data, the researchers tabulated teacher and student responses to conflict and then the types and frequency of different conflict management strategies. The research revealed that all students and teachers described conflict as negative. But, the degree to which they found conflict to be negative governed their actions. Students who described conflict as very negative often resolved it in a negative manner, i.e. with more conflict. Likewise, teachers who saw conflict in a more negative light often used more aggressive conflict management strategies such as authoritarianism. The authors note that these results match those of several studies conducted in America and New Zealand. While noting that fact, it is still debatable as to whether this research is productive as the results seem predictable even without study. The authors do note that teachers and students do not utilize complex conflict management skills. They posit that this deficiency is due to the perception of conflict. The most useful part of the study is that it suggests that teachers and students would benefit from training in conflict management and in their perception of conflict. I have always felt that conflict was positive. While physical conflict is destructive, most conflict leads to learning. Without intellectual conflict, most of the major discoveries we enjoy would not have been made. Our most productive times in history have been when disagreements between two great thinkers have spurred development. The famous political d ebates between Hamilton and Jefferson immediately spring to mind. In the end, conflict is necessary in the education process. We simply must train teachers to see themselves not as disciplinarians but as facilitators. Then, the perception of conflict and the types of conflict manageme

Monday, November 18, 2019

Nonprofit Governance WA 3 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nonprofit Governance WA 3 - Coursework Example Carver forces not to use 360 degree evaluation of a CEO because it violates the good governance when it is applied to a CEO. The CEO must be evaluated with unknown criteria. The board should not confront a CEO in front of all the board members which most often does not work. Each individual board member should separately evaluate the CEO with full authority (Carver & Carver, 2009). The ad hoc members should not observe or experience the evaluation of a CEO because these are the special groups which are outsourced and are not part of an organization. In that case the assessment would not be accurate and there are chances that the assessment process would not according to company’s criteria. Lastly, the Board should not assign the task to the ‘special committee’ or the Chairman for the assessment of the CEO because unconsciously, the CEO would then work for whoever appointed him to handle the company’s matters. The board itself would be responsible for the evaluation of CEO (Carver & Carver, 2009). The points listed by Carver for the CEO evaluation has to be agreed because these points can either help a company in the appointment of a good CEO or it can make it worse for the company. The board should be able to adopt the concept of self inspection monitoring in which the company relates its own standards for evaluating the CEO with the general standard in other firms. This helps the company in mitigating the risks involved with their own CEO evaluation and in the end it can propose points related to the company’s own process related to the CEO evaluation. There is an agreement how Carver proposed those points which should be avoided in the case of a CEO in forming the special committee or hiring the outside professionals to deal with the case. There is a possibility that the CEO might perform the work that pleases the committee who

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Foundations of Politics

Foundations of Politics Foundations of Politics Sarah Quicke How many faces of power do Political scientists need to take into account when carrying out their research? In this essay I will show that there are three faces of power which political scientists need to take into account when carrying out their research. The first face of power is the classical pluralist view of power, presented by Dahl, the second ‘decision making face of power by neo-elitists Bachrach and Baratz, and the third face, the ‘radical view of power by Steven Lukes. The second and third faces of power can be argued to be building upon the faces of power before them. Each face of power gets progressively more complex, and harder to measure and quantify. Therefore, political scientists need to take into account all three faces of power, but bearing in mind that the first face of power is often considered too simplistic, and the third face of power is hard to measure. A common description of power, is how one person, or group of people, ‘affect others, meaning they have influence over the others. However, Morriss argues that â€Å"power is not concerned at all with affecting, though ‘influence is. ‘Power is concerned with effecting, which is a very different idea.† (Morriss, 1987: p. 29). If A has an affect on B, it alters B. If A effects B, it is the cause of the alteration to B. Therefore political scientists need to make as clear a distinction as possible between power and influence, and thus an ‘effect or ‘affect, because there are subtle, but nonetheless, important differences. The faces of power debate, starts with the first face of power, sometimes called the ‘decision making phase by Robert Dahl. â€Å"Thus, for Dahl [power is when]†¦A has power over B to the extent that she can ‘get B to do something that B wouldnt otherwise do†¦where there is an overt conflict of interests.â₠¬  (Hay, 2002: p.172). Essentially, this is about As power to change the decision of B. The conflict of interests mentioned here is an important point underlying this theory. Dahl assumes that B has perfect knowledge that her changed behaviour is against her own interests. In other words, B does not want to change her behaviour and knows it is not good for her, but there is more of an incentive to act as A wishes. This idea of power can be liked to â€Å"physical or mechanical power, in that it implies that power involves being ‘pulled or pushed against ones will† (Haywood, 1994: p.126). Therefore in the example mentioned above, Bs lack of power is matched by As power. As in the subject of physics, where there is a force acting in one direction, there is a counter force acting in the opposing direction. As Colin Hay says: â€Å"power is unproductive or zero sum -some gain only to the extent that others lose out.† (Hay, 2002: p.173) This can be more clearly under stood by the following example: If a brother and a sister are arguing over which programme to watch on television, and unless the sister agrees to let the brother watch what he wants, the brother will take away the remote control. Therefore, it can be argued that the brother is exerting power over the sister. If, however, the sister did not know that her favourite programme was on today, and therefore did not want to watch the television, then the brother would not have to exert any form of power over his sister because there is no conflict of interests (Hay, 2002: p 173) This type of power, although simplistic, is still important for political scientists, as it is overt and it is easy to detect as the actors involved can readily be identified. Robert Dahl found an example of this form of power in a study carried on in New Haven, Connecticut in the USA, which is described in his work, ‘Who Governs? (1963). In this study, Dahl found â€Å"a wide disparity between the influence exerted by the politically privileged and economically powerful†¦[in contrast with] ordinary citizens.† (Haywood, 1994: p.125). This face of power has faced much criticism, because only deals with the decision-making, after the agenda has been set. As in the case of New Haven, the distribution of power is not as clear-cut as Dahl has suggested. Dahl found significant differences in the amount of power two groups of society had, however, the scope of the power each group has may only be very small. In an article published in response to Dahls findings, G. William Domhoff says: â€Å"Dahl emphasized that there were indeed inequalities in New Haven. However, they were dispersed inequalities, (Dahl, 1961, pp. 91-93) meaning that no one group had all of the different types of resources.†(Google scholar, 2005) For example, the economically powerful Dahl mentions in his study, may only have influence over business related policies, and therefore little or no influence over other policies and resources. This means in the context of the state, it is about what the government do, for example, changes in taxation, interest rates, and the introduction of new laws. At a basic level the second face of power is concerned with how groups in society have influence over the agenda for the decision-making. These groups have an indirect but nonetheless, important role in the final decision made. Bachrach and Baratz have said power can be utilised when â€Å"A devotes his energies to creating or reinforcing social and political values†¦that limit the scope of the political process to public consideration of only those issues which are comparatively innocuous to A† (Google scholar), 1994, p: 948). This is an important point for political scientists to take into account, because it makes significant progress from Dahls behavioural relationship in the first face of power. In this case, groups such as businesses, aristocracy and the very wealthy, say for example in a small community, may have power to prevent certain decisions from being discussed at all, because they have influenced the agenda. For example, if a business were dumping waste ma terials in a nearby river, it would be against their interests if stopping water pollution were added to the agenda. Therefore, the business may suggest other topics to add to the agenda or persuade others not to add to this to the agenda. This also leads on to the point that Andrew Haywood makes about how the ‘form of power has changed in the second face. Haywood argues that Dahls one-dimensional view of power â€Å"ignores the extent to which power is a possession, reflected perhaps in wealth, political position, social status and so forth† (Haywood, 1994: p.126). By possession it is implied that power is already ‘owned by these groups and thus can be used at a time and place of their choosing. This means that these groups only have to intervene in the agenda setting when they have a personal interest in the matter. Bachrach and Baratzs idea of power builds on that of Dahls incorporating the visible power that can be seen by the public on the decisions being made, but also power that is not visible to the public. Bachrach and Baratz imply that there is a distinction between the formality of the decision making process, and an informality of the non-decision or agenda setting process. As discussed above, the decision making process is a relatively overt one. In contrast, the agents in the agenda setting process are less identifiable, because the number of agents who have influence over the agenda setting process has increased. For example, if A has power over B and B has power over C and C is involved in the agenda setting process, then it is fair to say that C has been influenced by A and B. Therefore, this is important to political scientists because they need to be able to identify who has exercised power, in order to analyse who has had the biggest influence in the agenda setting. As well as identifying who has power, they would need to take in to account the relative amounts of power involved groups have. If, in the example above, A only has a small amount of influence over B but B has a large influence over C then the distribution of power is uneven. It may appear that B has had a significant influence over C, but actually it is A who has had the most influence. Situations like this one would be difficult for political scientists to analyse. Although Bachrach and Baratz have made a significant advance on Dahls one-dimensional view of power, the main criticism made against them is that they still have not acknowledged that power relationships may exist covertly. Their theory is based (in much the same way as Dahls) on the assumption of visible power relationships. Both the first and second face of power fail to recognise that power may be exercised by manipulation and persuasion. The first and second faces of power both assume that individuals and groups act rationally, but Steven Lukes, in his theory of the third face of power or ‘the radical view of power, argues that this is impossible and against human nature. As Colin Hay explains: In expanding the notion of power to include preference shaping, [Lukes] is forced to draw the distinction between subjective or perceived interests on the one hand, and actual or ‘real interests on the other, suggesting that where power is exercised it involves the subversion of the latter. (2002, p.180). Perceived interests are what we know to be our real interests, which are influenced or ‘shaped by the world around us, the people in our lives and the way we have been brought up, as well as the media. The crucial point here is that we believed our perceived interests to be our real interests, because we are not able to determine what our real interests are. Real interests are â€Å"what [people] would want and prefer were they able to make the choice† (Hay, 2002, p.180). This is a rational idea because it is suggesting that people are living in a blinkered world, and are not fully aware of what their actual preferences and interests are. The difference between perceived and real interest is where power can be exercised. For example if A can get B to do x by persuading B that x is in Bs perceived interests, where B does not know that doing x is actually against Bs real interests then this an example of a power relationship. Both Hay and Haywood would say that B is exhibi ting ‘false consciousness. Colin Hay argues against Lukes theory, saying that the condition of real interests is impossible as it relies on perfect knowledge which is impossible to acquire in the real world: â€Å"There is nothing objective about the process by which one ascertains ones genuine interests, since ones objective interests are ones perceived interests under the conditions of complete information.† (Hay, 2002, p.182). Lukes idea of complete information argues that people should have full understanding of the world around them and what was best for them. This means that these people would not be influenced or persuaded because they will be able to make a distinction between real interests and the perceived interests that are thrust upon them. Put in the simplest terms, Lukes is suggesting that we dont know what is really best for us; we have a blinkered view of the world and our interests. This is an obvious criticism, as it is impossible to prove or quantify objective and real interests, and if there is any such difference between them. It is unrealistic to suggest that anyone can exist under conditions of perfect knowledge, because this would mean acquiring full knowledge of everything in the world. Also the idea that people are living under the term (which both Hay and Haywood frequently use) called ‘false consciousness. This is indeed a radical one, as it is suggesting that people are incapable of making rational judgements for themselves. People may take offensively to this view as they may understand Lukes to mean that they are ‘stupid because they cannot determine their real interests. To conclude, all three faces of power are significant and each bring something different to the debate surrounding power. However, the third face of power is the most important for political scientists to take into account because it is the most realistic, and is the most all-encompassing form of power. It is easy think of an example of this form of power in our everyday lives. However, it is difficult for political scientists to measure and quantify what groups in society have power and power distribution. Due to the nature of the third face of power, it is likely that political scientists may disagree over such issues as real and perceived interests because political scientists may have been ‘brought up on different political assumptions and points of view. Bibliography: Bachrach, B Barats, M. S, (1994) Two faces of Power, American Political Science Review (Routledge) Domhoff, G W, (2005) Who Rules America: Who really rules in Dahls New Haven? Full address: http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/new_haven.html Hay, C (ed.) (2002) Political Analysis A Critical Introduction (Palgrave Macmillan) Haywood, A (1994) Political Ideas And Concepts (Bedford) Lukes, S (1974) Power: A radical View, Macmillan Press. http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=enlr=id=zYuPgt4AJysCoi=fndpg=PA296dq=steven+lukes+power+a+radical+viewots=rtYtry_yv1sig=GYzVxQlnHFJOdcva4UOSEyoPhEM#PPA296,M1 Morriss, P, (1987), Power: A philosophical Analysis (Manchester University Press)

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Edgar Allan Poes, The Cask of Amontillado as a Description of Poes Li

Edgar Allan Poe's, The Cask of Amontillado as a Description of Poe's Life The cast of Amontillado was written by Allan Poe at a time when he felt he was being unjustly attacked. Most critics believe that the cask of Amontillado was written by Poe against his critics in the Mirror. I believe the cask of Amontillado is a story of Revenge and Hatred against some friends whom be believed had wrongfully accused him. A review of Allan Poe as a person and his experiences in life is essential a clear understanding of "The Cask of Amontillado". Hence, I will apply a cultural method of interpretation. Poe was raised by his God parents after his parents died at the age of three. He was involved in Gambling and he also drank a lot. According to the Columbia Encyclopedia, "Poe was a complex person, tormented and alcoholic yet also considerate and humorous, a good friend, and an affectionate husband. Indeed, his painful life, his neurotic attraction to intense beauty, violent horror, and death, and his sense of the world of dreams contributed to his greatness as a writer"(2). This was true of Poe's literature. The Cast of Amontillado is full of suspense, shows different Kinds of wine and the complexity of Poe's personality can be shown in the Characters .Some critics have said that the cask of Amontillado can be read as an allegory of two portraits of Poe. I think The Cask of Amontillado is a Portrait of Poe and that of his critics. It is a story that is full of symbols. The Cask of Amontillado is the story of man who is desperate to obtain revenge from an insult. The nature of the insult was never revealed in the story. All we know is that Montressor methodically planned his revenge against Fortunato. As Allan Poe put it, "It mus... ...portrayed by Fotunato and Luchesi. Considering the close resemblance between the story and the issues in his life at that time, I believe Allan Poe was writing about himself. He finally got his revenge when he filed a libel suit against English and Fuller. He won the libel suit but he also lost his reputation in the process. In The Cask of Amontillado, Montressor walled Fortunato in. However, Fortunato rested in peace while Montressor will go on with a troubled conscience. Works Cited 1. Poe, Edgar Allan , "The Columbia Encyclopedia", sixth ed. 2001 2. Dedmond, Francis " The Cask of Amontillado and the war of Literati, " Modern Language Quarterly; June 54, vol 15, issue2, p137, 10p. 3. Poe Edger Allan "The Cask of Amontillado" Reading and Writing literature by Phillip Sippiora, Ed by Pearson Education Inc. Upper saddle River, New Jersey, 2002. 240-245.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Strategic Development Allied Irish’s Banks

The primary objective of the Allied Forces in Africa was to make the most of ready Allied forces in an operation equal with current capabilities to relieve pressure on the Russians. â€Å"Other objectives of the operation were to gain French Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia as a base for enlisting the French colonial empire in the war, to assist the British in destroying Axis forces threatening Egypt and Suez, to open the Mediterranean to Allied shipping, to shorten the route to the Far East, and to prepare the way for further operations against the European AxisThe objectives of Operation Torch were to secure French North Africa and then strike Eastwards and take Rommel's German Italian Panzer Army in the rear. 1 With 65,000 Allied troops and around 650 Warships under the overall command of Comander In Chief Eisenhower it was to strike in French Morocco and Algeria and later link up with Montgomery's Eighth Army. The North African Campaign of the Second World War was extremely importa nt because it was the only land based fight that the Allies could take to the Axis powers from September 1940 until the invasion of Sicily in July 1943.It was very important in strategic terms with the Mediterranean, and the British African Empire at stake. The North African Campaign drew Axis forces away from the Eastern Front and Fortress Europe (Axis defenses against Allied invasion of European mainland from Britain), but for the Allies it also served to delay the ‘Second Front' that Stalin so desperately wanted to see . II Russia’s Strategy Against Germany Late in 1943, Stalin met with Roosevelt and Churchill for the first time — The Teheran Conference.They agreed that the Western Allies would invade France in June 1944 and that when the invasion began the USSR would launch a new offensive from the east . On April 23, 1945, Soviet troops reached Berlin — with over one million men and more than 20,000 pieces of artillery. A few days later, Soviet troops advancing from the East met up with U. S. troops advancing from the west at the Elbe River . On April 23, 1945, Soviet troops reached Berlin — with over one million men and more than 20,000 pieces of artillery.A few days later, Soviet troops advancing from the East met up with U. S. troops advancing from the west at the Elbe River. On April 30, as the Soviets were battling through the streets of his city, Adolph Hitler killed himself. On May 2, 1945, Soviet troops completed the capture of Berlin and all remaining German troops surrendered within a few days. The war in Europe was over III The Storming of Normandy On June 6, 1944 the Western Allies landed in northern France, opening the long-awaited â€Å"Second Front† against Adolf Hitler's Germany.Though they had been fighting in mainland Italy for some nine months, the Normandy invasion was in a strategically more important region, setting the stage to drive the Germans from France and ultimately destroy the National Socialist regime . The invasion of Normandy in 1944 was the conclusion of three years of planning by Allied forces in Britain. Landing in the face of determined German resistance, units of the British Commonwealth and U. S.armies established a beachhead, defeated German counter-attacks, and eventually broke out into an aggressive campaign to liberate France. â€Å"Commanded by U. S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Normandy assault phase, code-named â€Å"Neptune† (the entire operation was â€Å"Overlord†), was launched when weather reports predicted satisfactory conditions on 6 June. Hundreds of amphibious ships and craft, supported by combatant warships, crossed the English Channel behind dozens of minesweepers.They arrived off the beaches before dawn. Three divisions of paratroopers (two American, one British) had already been dropped inland. Following a brief bombardment by ships' guns, Soldiers of six divisions (three American, two British and one Canadian ) stormed ashore in five main landing areas, named â€Å"Utah†, â€Å"Omaha†, â€Å"Gold†, â€Å"Juno† and â€Å"Sword†. After hard fighting, especially on â€Å"Omaha† Beach, by day's end a foothold was well established† .

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Australia Essays - Climate Of Australia, Rain, Free Essays

Australia Essays - Climate Of Australia, Rain, Free Essays Australia Australia is an island continent and is located southeast of Asia . Australia is the smallest continent in the world . Australia is made up of six states . The climate in Australia varies greatly : a hot season , wet season with rains falling mainly in February and March. During which north western has warm and dry season. Australians mineral

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Political Systems of the Athenians and Egyptians essays

Political Systems of the Athenians and Egyptians essays When comparing the political systems of ancient Egypt and the Athenians, one must consider the differences between the two societies to fully appreciate them. Analyzing them today allows us to identify their separate strengths and weaknesses in comparison to what they have accomplished and/or changed. Ancient Greece was revolutionary in its time, building on theories from earlier societies such as the Middle East and the Egyptians. Athens is perhaps best-known for its democracy, due to the fact that the Ancient Greeks were the inventors of democracy. One of the central features of Athenian democracy was the direct participation of the people, attending assemblies to decide on policies. Known as citizens, these people would meet ten times annually to discuss and make final decisions regarding policies. Everyone in attendance would have a say in how matters would be dealt with. The citizens would govern themselves on monthly and yearly bases. Estimates suggest that there were never more than 50,000 citizens, and a quorum of 6000 citizens was needed to make a decision for citizens rights. This tells us that a substantial number of citizens were involved at any given time, thus being true democracy (Arblaster, 1987). Citizens were chosen by lot. According to Webster, by lot is defined as: an object used in deciding something by chance; also: the use of lots to decide something. This was something completely unique at the time. So as not to infringe on the rights of the people, most offices were filled for limited amounts of time, not allowing any one official to remain in power for too long. Because the people wanted full participation for all, not just the elite, they offered incentives (Arblaster). Namely, wages were introduced to the people who held office, attended assemblies, or who served as jurors. The wages werent much, but they certainly guaranteed participation from the people...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Should Ireland legalise marijuana Research Paper

Should Ireland legalise marijuana - Research Paper Example Moreover, comparing the drug use and consumption in both Ireland and Colorado is imperative for further development and understanding of the issue. Regarding the drug consumption and possession, the law forbids the use of marijuana in Portugal. In the country, the illicit use of marijuana increased from 7.8% in a lifetime to 12%. However, when carrying out the study in 2012 (Kilmer, 2013), the use of the drug among teenagers had greatly decreased. It is vital to note that the overall consumption of the drug increased by 4.1% since the year 2001 (Kilmer, 2013). Going through the same issue in Ireland, one recognizes that people in the country are avid users of the substance. A poll carried out in the year 1998 showed that 24% of all the citizens in the country supported the act that sought to legalize the use of marijuana in the country. In contemporary research carried out, 39% of adults in Ireland are for the legalization of marijuana that is a huge increase (Murphy, 2008). With the information, it is important to compare this with the manner through which Colorado discusses the issue of marijuana smoking. According to the United States’ records, there are two different sides to the use marijuana in Colorado, as opposed to Ireland. In Ireland, the government does not seek to identify any  marijuana  legalization be it medicinal or recreational. It has all uses of bhang banned. However, in Colorado, the state government recognizes that there are two types of marijuana in the United States. This is medicinal and recreational. On November of the year 2000, people of Colorado went to the poll to determine the people that were for the legalization of marijuana. In the poll, 54% of these people approved the amendment of section 20 of the state’s constitution (Toney, 2012). However, the legalization of this commodity was only for medicinal purposes. However, with regard to the use of regular or rather recreational marijuana, this was banned

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Buddhism and the four noble truths Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Buddhism and the four noble truths - Coursework Example Notably, the path is the most vital of all elements in Buddha’s teachings. Right view and intention paths connote wisdom. Right speech, action and livelihood paths instill moral discipline. Right effort, mindfulness and concentration paths promote concentration. There are notable differences between Buddhist and Christian viewpoints of the prodigal son story. The meaning differs in the two stories. The prodigal son story, as expressed in Luke’s gospel, teaches the return of sinners to their relationship with God (Valea, 2014). Jesus’ message through the parable was to inform religious experts to embrace members perceived as outcasts in the society. In Buddha, the story implies that there is no privileged position to warrant an individual’s loss of spiritual becoming. Buddha’s teaching in the story intends to teach nuns, arhats and gods that were ready to become bodhisattva before becoming Buddha (Valea, 2014). The prodigal son story teaching in Luke’s gospel occurs before religious leaders while Buddhist version occurs before nuns, gods and other beings. The stories are different in the context of son’s departure and their conditions. While the son in Luke’s version claims his inheritance and leaves with his fortune, the prodigal son in Buddha left without