American lifestyle Essay Example for Free

American lifestyle Essay In your opinion what are the two most significant characteristics of modernist literature? Use any TWO texts from the course to substantiate and illustrate your argument. In my opinion, the two most significant characteristics of modernist literature are the pessimistic view of modern society or modern doubt, expressed through alienation and fragmentation, and the technique of stream of consciousness. In this essay I will discuss these characteristics and several important texts to illustrate my argument. Gertrude Steins work is a perfect example of fragmentation, or rather in her case, literary cubism. In art, cubism means showing multiple perspectives, taking a form and breaking it down to rebuild it on canvas (analytical cubism) or taking materials to create a sort of collage (synthetic cubism). In modernist literature the same process occurs: people, feelings, locations are fragmented, only bits and pieces are described instead of the whole picture. As Picasso said: I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them. Stein was inspired by modernist artists such as Picasso, and wrote a series of literary portraits, including one on Picasso. She defended the representational nature of Cubism and believed that through the distortion, repetition and altering of a subject one could get a resemblance of human perception. The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock is a good example of both alienation and fragmentation. Both Prufrock and his world are fragmented. He cannot really connect with the women he sees, the conversations he hears, the city he walks through, or the mermaids he hears. The descriptions of the women he meets are not realistic, but fragmented, the poem never visualizes the woman with whom Prufrock imagines an encounter except in fragments: Arms that are braceleted and white and bare Arms that lie along a table, or wrap about a shawl. But not only the women and his environment are described in fragments, Prufrock himself is growing old, fading in a fragmented way: I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled. / Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach? Even his voice is a fragmentation of voices past and present ( Dante, Shakespeare) that somehow harmonize. The fragmentation in the poem the worries, the interruptions, the repetitions all sum up his relation to the world. The images are used to convey meaning, coherence can be established from the ruins of fragments. Prufrocks thoughts may perhaps move from one to another, but they do so in a way that mimics our thought process. He moves from one doubt to another, and his seemingly random observations are rooted in his past and his insecurities, just like ours are. This poems fragmentation to some extent serves to display Prufrocks indecisive, second-guessing, and pessimistic nature, but it more importantly reflects the fears and uncertainties we all posses. Moreover, Prufrocks question Do I dare//Disturb the universe? mirrors his insecurity and anxiety about his social standing. From the fragmented images provided by Eliot we come away with a coherent analysis of Prufrocks character. He is the typical modern man, and his fragmented and often unsure voice is proof of it. The other issue raised by this poem is the modernist feeling of alienation. Prufrock alienates his emotions from those around him. He is scared to show the real him for fear of being rejected or alone. He cannot connect with people on an emotional level. There will be time, there will be time to prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet. In this particular quote Prufrock tells us how he is not himself, but someone people want him to be. Prufrock experiences feelings of exclusion and alienation from the modern world and industrialised society, which becomes clear in his low self-esteem and his inability to form relationships, and makes him worry about what people think of him. He even claims he should have been a pair of ragged claws Scuttling across the floors of silent seas and feels pinned and wriggling on the wall when people scrutinise him. With the lack of self-confidence, his alienation grows stronger. The quote: Do I dare? is repeated often throughout the poem. He asks himself time after time whether he should be himself or the person other expect him to be. Because of his alienation Prufrock feels unable to act on his desires, since he feels that people will automatically reject him. This can be seen as a reflection of the fast-paced modern American lifestyle, with people feeling trapped and unable to connect with other people and to society. Another example of the alienation evident in modernist literature is Heart of Darkness. Modernist writers often present the world as desolate, and Conrads Heart of Darkness is no exception. As Marlow describes: My isolation amongst all these men with whom I had no point of contact, the oily and languid sea, the uniform sombreness of the coast, seemed to keep me away from the truth of things, within the toil of a mournful and senseless delusion (p.30)

An Ethnographic Study on Children’s Culture :: Sociology, Childhood, Culture

Children spend most of their time in institutions such as schools, learning, in order to provide themselves with the education they need to make their dreams come true. Children view these institutions as a space for sociability where they can form bonds with others, outside their families, as they create and spread their own distinctive culture (McDonnell 26). As a reading buddy at Brooksview Middle School, the knowledge I acquired while there was fascinating as it allowed me to reflect upon my own experiences and relate it to what we were learning in the course. Observing firsthand and note taking allows a researcher to examine the practices of children’s culture more efficiently and this is what I spent most of my Monday afternoon’s doing. Although these institutions are there to help children succeed, they also deny them access to their own culture which may prohibit them from becoming â€Å"fully human† (Friere 28). Viewing childhood as a culture allows one to understand why children view culture so differently from adults (McDonnell 22). At institutions such as Brooksview, children are denied access on a number of things and are assumed to be incapable of making their own rational decisions. Due to the institution’s location, the teachers and principle are extremely strict with the children on how they should act, giving them standards which may deny children from accessing their own culture. This influences these children to act in certain ways, ways in which they believe the society wants them to act. This is shown one day when I attended an assembly regarding the failing rate of the grade sixes. Throughout the assembly, the principle was educating the children on how they should behave in school which led him to his point that the cause of the failing rate (60%) was because of the â€Å"coloured† kids (Appendix, Day 6). This is similar to the experiment that is being tested on Octavian in the novel Octavian Nothing Traitor to the Nation. Due to Brooksview’s location and Octavian’s skin colour, people will presume that black people will fail, especially in practices such as education. â€Å"†¦ African is, by nature, (a) shiftless and (b) rebellious, requiring constant supervision to remain productive†¦ You have done us a wonderful service, through your failure.† (Anderson 337). This possibly will affect a child’s approach within their society as it may alter their perspective on how they should act rather than how they want to act; changing for the sake of others.

Caste System in India and Social Status Essay

What night is donned upon my nation, lord? â€Å"Atleast she has an employment guarantee.† â€Å"Even if the employment is manual scavenging† â€Å"Someone will do it, why not she† â€Å"She is a little child. She also has a right to education and decent livelihood.† Ah! I then realized what void argument have I given. Who will provide them education and what will it fetch them? â€Å"She is anyway having two meals.† And yes so true is that. Food is much more important than dignity. Even if they are maltreated it is their destiny. The concept of destiny has always remained a puzzle to me. And this destiny is based on the social status of their parents. Yesterday there was a shraaddh ceremony in my village. It is organised to worship, to acknowledge our ancestors. Therefore I made a rare visit to my village. While serving the food I saw two little girls, wearing tattered clothes and with unkempt hairs. On enquiring I came to know that they belonged to scheduled caste. One of my cousins told me that they are engaged in cleaning others’ excreta manually. I could not believe it. They were barely 5-6 years old. I was astonished at the fact that how agreeingly they had given in to the social discrimination. I gave them a sympathetic look but they didn’t react. They didn’t care about by compassion, they just wanted food. My sympathy would not satisfy their hunger and hunger is the m ost prominent feeling they have. They don’t need dignity or education which will not bring them food. They don’t care if they have to clean gutters or do manual scavenging. They are not aware of their rights under Article 15, Article 17, Article 21A or Article 24 and they don’t give a damn to it. I wonder if the twinkling of stars ever reach their eyes. The time running on our wrists seems frozen in their eyes. How hopeless seem their eyes! They don’t question anyone. But once you see them it is impossible to escape (Tears fill my eyes). I wish the oppressor would also look at them once. We have made their life so blunt. Its a crime, I tell you people, it is a crime to kill even the hope of hopes. And then they talk about religion. What religion? Whose caste and cultures? Is God only of the rich and powerful? Do the oppressed have no God? A sin it is. I speculated if they were also acknowledging their ancestors these days. What will they thank them for? Poverty and gloom is their inheritance and ignominy their heritage. Even after spending their entire life doing these odd jobs they gain nothing and remain trapped in this vicious circle. Nothing changes and generations after generations exhaust their life in it. Will someone come to their rescue? When I went to serve them meal I was precautioned many times by my kins to be very careful about keeping the utensils substantially far to keep them (obviously utensils) â€Å"clean†. Even after continually encountering social seclusion they remained undeterred. â€Å"You should be grateful and proud that you are born in human race, in a hindu family and that too in a BRAHMIN family.† According to my family being born in a BRAHMIN family was the biggest achievement of my life. But after seeing what I had lately seen these declarations seem so hollow. I feel pity, I feel guilty for being a brahmin. Where is humanity, God? â€Å"What night is donned upon my country, lord?† Night which gets darker with the sunrise (as its the time to make the world cleaner and their life dirtier). Now the question arises is that how will it change? And more importantly who will bring the change? The more I try to find the answers the more disheartened I am. Who will provide an answer? Politicians- Though the law considers all the people equal but law-keepers don’t. If the casteism and thus untouchability ends, how will their shops run? How will they gain votes by dividing the society? They would not let this stigma end. Education- Even if they go to schools they will be discriminated and secluded. That learning has no meaning which leaves them despondent and unemployed. There is no use of education unless it is free and practical. Bureaucrats- Most of the officials are ignorant and indifferent towards these people though many people from their community are obtaining significant positions. They do little or nothing to improve the condition of these people. Government policies- It is well-known that policies are never rightly implemented in India. Reservation is a fine example. The prosperous are the beneficiaries whereas the poor remain poor and needy remain needy. Common people- It is the foremost responsibility of privileged castes to be humane. I often think if really there is some God we would be punished, our life can’t be so perfect (though it really is not). I would like to summarise my message as FEAR NONE BUT GOD. However I often doubt the presence of God. I really can’t follow a religion which renders people hopeless and suppress their rights. My conscience is my God. And for the unprivileged sections, â€Å"God helps those who help themselves.† So be courageous, be aware and send your children to schools rather than to clean gutters as it is not only about them but even the fore coming generations. Education is much more important than a little more money. I won’t end it on a sad note. The morning of this dark night will definitely come. I urge the people in power to visit these people and see how they have given up the hope to rise, how the dogmas of caste has ran down to their veins. And I request the advantaged sections to restudy the vedas and let these people choose. Make humanity your religion. And do remember that you are not following the Brahmin rules, so don’t push them back. I challenge you to beg for living before pressurising the oppressed to do this inhuman work. Rise! O rise! Before you fall. Let the positivity penetrate into their skin and get to their blood. Let them live before they die. Provide them opportunities to learn the magic of words. Give them a fair chance to realise their potential and talents and choose their work so that Ambedkar becomes their soul and they his shadow. â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦This division of labour is not spontaneous; it is not based on natural aptitudes. Social and individual efficiency requires us to develop the capacity of an individual to the point of competency to choose and to make his own career. This principle is violated in the Caste System, in so far as it involves an attempt to appoint tasks to individuals in advance—selected not on the basis of trained original capacities, but on that of the social status of the parents†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..† – B.R. Ambedkar

Case Study(Whole Foods) - 1481 Words

1.) The Whole Foods strategy seeks to provide products of the best quality to its customers by maintaining high standards that the farmers, organic growers must match. The strategy also involves providing best tasting food and foods that are fresh, wholesome and safe to eat. It also involves promoting organically grown foods to exercise their influence on the people and the industry. Customers are the most important stakeholders responsible for the growth of Whole Foods Market, thus satisfying their needs and meeting their every possible demand is key behind the success of this company. Inviting store environments and retail innovation also enhances this. Their strategy involves working efficiently with its vendors, team members and†¦show more content†¦Return on Shareholder’s Equity= (Profits after taxes/Total Equity) 2004 2005 2006 2007 (3,864,950-2,523,816/3,864,950) (4,701,289-3,052,184/4,701,289) (5,607,376-3,647,734/5,607,376) (6,591,773-4,295,170/6,591,773) = .34699 or .35% = .35 % =. 35 % = .35% 2.NP= .033 % = .050% = .036% = .027% 3. N/A N/A (49+8,606/2,042,996) = .004 (24,781+736,087/3,213,128) = .023 4. N/A N/A (203,828/2,042,996) = .099% (182,740/3,213,128) = .056% After analyzing some of the important financial ratios of the company it seems that the Gross Profit is consistent throughout the years 2003-2007 remaining at 35%, however the net profit margin displays another story it has decreased significantly from 2005-2006(.050-.036 %) and from 2006-2007(.036-.027%). The net profit dropped 2.3 % in two years, which is not alarming but the management should look into the reasons behind the decline. The debt-to-equity ratio is used to evaluate borrowing capability and the amount of debt in the company. Usually ratios above 1.0 indicate excessive debt, in the case of Whole Foods Market the ratio has gone up from 2006-2007 (.004-.023), which indicated an increase in the amount of borrowings. The ratio is nowhere close to one, which indicates credit worthiness of Whole Foods Market and their ability to pay back debt. The return on shareholders equity hasShow MoreRelatedWhole Foods Case Study1568 Words   |  7 PagesNick Zawisa Strategic Management September 23, 2010 Case Study: Whole Foods Market Since 1980, Whole Foods Markets has grown from a small local store in Austin, Texas, to the largest retail chain of natural and organic foods in the United States. Whole Foods has been leading the natural and organic foods movement across the United States, working to gain acceptance among the growing number of consumers interested in eating healthier foods. 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