Should Huck Finn Be Banned in Schools Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned Essay

Introduction On several occasions, schools have challenged and banned the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for its use of racial characterization and slang forthwith. The fictitious novel, written by Mark Twain, entails a story of a Negro slave and a white boy, whose journey downriver Mississippi regards a tale of two boys coming of age.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Should Huck Finn Be Banned in Schools? Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned Essay specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More After its publication and release in 1876, the book generated controversy in the world of literature that remains today because of its ‘inappropriate’ nature from a conservative viewpoint. It made teaching and reading the book controversial. This led to its banning in schools in the United States many times. But should Huck Finn be banned in schools? In spite of the controversy The Adventures of Huckleberr y Finn generates, its hidden values support the use of this book in schools and prove the point it should not be among banned books. Indeed, the censorship of this book only blocks children from learning the history that surrounds the pre-Civil War and slavery. In this context, the conservative views with regard to this novel hurt the American education system as it blocks children from understanding the origin of the American Civil War and slavery. Its banning stemmed from a supposed inappropriateness of the language used in the book at the time. However, for students today, understanding the use of the word â€Å"nigger† by Huck Finn, considered inappropriate and an insult at the time, would enable students to learn from the past and get used to offensive words in classrooms and social settings. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn language and characterization represent the context of America’s pre-Civil War era and slavery. Racism in The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin n Those who vote for the reasons why Huck Finn should not be taught in schools always mention the theme of racism.The banning of the Huckleberry Finn because of its racial characterization only results in racial lines between authorities and the parents. Eventually, the students fail to learn how to deal with offensive language references in a sensitive manner. The wide variety of racial groups present in American schools today means that racial lines often occur, and sometimes students cross them unknowingly. Twain’s novel racial characterization regards the use of the word â€Å"nigger† throughout the book and forms the reason for its banning from the use in schools (Twain 14.56). However, though many schools decided not to teach the book, Twain’s classic novel should remain on the list of books used in school teaching. Teaching the challenges of racialism will help place this novel into a contextual timeline in American history and enable students and readers to understand the reasons behind its censorship.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The central theme in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn goes beyond race. The classic American novel highlights the coming together of races or people who historically could not coexist. The book illustrates loyalty that transcends any racial and social desegregation and hence, an urgent universal theme to teach to students. The language used in the novel, though inappropriate at the time, can help students today to understand and appreciate the depth of characterization in classic literature. The character Huck Finn’s usage of the word â€Å"nigger† (n-word) contextually bore no racial meaning during the pre-Civil War and slavery periods. The word â€Å"nigger† only became inappropriate in public communication at the turn of the 19th century as such an insult (Car ey-Webb 25). Students cannot learn from the past, especially the wrongs of the past, and subsequently change the future if the past remains blocked from them. Mark Twain presented this novel in a way that condemns slavery and racism present at the time in American society. A runaway slave, Jim, gets assistance from a young boy, Huckleberry Finn and his friend Tom. Although Huck regularly used the word â€Å"niggers† in the novel when referring to Jim and other African-Americans, he profoundly respected him and on several occasions, saved him from the return to slavery camps. For instance, Huck makes an incredible decision when he tears his letter to Miss Watson that revealed Jim’s whereabouts; â€Å"I was a trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things†¦and then I says to myself: ‘All right, then, I’ll go to hell’†¦and never thought no more about reforming† (Twain 162). In light of deep racialism at the ti me, Huck Finn’s actions went against the standard expectations and as such, a positive role model in multi-racial school settings (Schulten 57). In addition, the other white characters in this novel remain depicted in a negative way compared to Jim. For instance, Huck’s father, Pap, abuses alcohol while the King and the Duke engage in many malicious swindles. These depictions show that Twain’s use of the word â€Å"nigger† when referring to Jim and African-Americans contained no racist or demeaning intent to the black population and could not be considered a racial slur. It shows the harshness of Southern life and the experiences underwent by black people in the pre-Civil War era which is the reason to keep the book in schools.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Should Huck Finn Be Banned in Schools? Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned Essay specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Th e book highlights essential lessons regarding racialism and social values and this is one of the reasons why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be banned. Its main character, Huck Finn, underwent significant moral development from the time he met Jim to the end of the book. In particular, Huck gets involved in a struggle between good and evil, a struggle in which good eventually prevails (Culture Shock 2). For example, Huck learns of the Duke and the King‘s evil schemes, including the impersonation of the Wilks brothers, after which he realizes the streaks in character of his â€Å"friends.† â€Å"I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I say to myself, My mind’s made up, I’ll hive that money for them or bust† (Twain 132). Hence, he disliked the racial segregation and the social practices taking place at the time. Thus, this is one of the arguments for the book belonging in the classrooms. Banning Huckleberry Finn Because of Slavery Viewpoints Among the reasons why Huck Finn should not be taught in schools there is also the theme of slavery. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn represents the American society in the late nineteenth century, a period characterized by slavery and social exclusion of the black population from mainstream social activities. With regard to slavery, the novel â€Å"remains the only one that accurately portrays slavery, represents a black dialect, and highlights the significant role played by the African-American character in America’s history† (Carey-Webb 23). In the book, Huck Finn portrays a positive role model when he aids Jim escape enslavement in the peak of slavery. While supporting the inclusion of the Adventures of Huckleberry at the school curriculum, Walrath writes; â€Å"the book demonstrates humanism, an idea that each person deserves respect and compassion, and attacks complacency regarding the social evils in our society† (Rationales 37). The social ev ils at the time included slavery and racial segregation of the nineteenth century. Furthermore, the book captures a crucial section of American history. The settings of the novel, itself, involve a harsh environment in America’s history during racial exclusion. With regard to Twain’s use of the word â€Å"nigger,† Walrath reasons that the author â€Å"deliberately used the term to display the imperfect nature of a growing democracy† (Rationales 38). Thus, the use of the term does not imply bias, rather its use bears historical implications as it captures the harsh social climate of the time. It shows that the application of the term matches with the cruel treatment slaves underwent during this era. It enables readers to understand slavery and the social awe associated with the word â€Å"nigger† in American history. The Southern Lifestyle in Huckleberry Finn: Summary Mark Twain satirizes the lifestyle in Southern cities of America in general throug h the way he depicts the characters. From the Grangerford family, Huck’s drunken father, the farmers, to the Duke and King, the characters represent the stubbornness and ignorance of Southerners back then. An example in this regard involves Huck’s father, Pap, who gets into a judge’s custody.Advertising Looking for research paper on american literature? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Subsequently, Pap pledges to change, an act that the judge declares the holiest time in history (Schulten 57). However, the following morning, the people find Pap drunk again. This hurts the judge, which appears ironic, as the judge believed that Pap would reform after his encounter with him. This example shows that the Southern citizens bore ignorance in this regard. Southern lifestyles also involved family feuds and pointless conflicts. An example that illustrates the ignorance and absurdness of family feuds involves the Grangerford family. A rich family who treats him as part of the family takes in huckleberry. However, he later learns that a feud existed between Grangerfords and another family, the Shepherdsons. The feud eventually leads to the murder of all the Grangerfords by the Shepherdsons in cold blood. This shows the pointless and stupid nature of the family feuds in Southern cities. Another example that shows the ridiculous nature of the Southern lifestyle regards the Du ke and the King’s deceptive schemes, which, though silly, succeeded many times. In the period leading up to the American Civil War, the customs, as well as the ideals of the North, contrasted significantly with that of the South. The South supported the institution of slavery, while the North opposed it (Carey-Webb 31). Nevertheless, mainly the wealthy aristocrats owned slaves; the poor whites could not afford them. This factor, coupled with territorial conflicts caused by the westward expansion, culminated in the 1861 Civil War (Carey-Webb 33). Mark Twain uses satire to show the nature of the Southern lifestyle during the slavery era. He satirized slavery by revealing the ridiculous aspects of the Southern lifestyle and as such, calls for its abolition. Thus, the arguments for the necessity of Huckleberry Finn to be banned in schools because of racism are considered not viable. People’s Viewpoints During this Era During the slavery period, there arose the Abolitionist s calling for the ending of slavery. However, some people, especially from the South, defended slavery. Their argument revolved around economics, religion, humanitarianism, and religion. According to Booth, those defending slavery argued that an end to the slave economy would significantly affect the Southern economy, which relied heavily on cotton, rice, and tobacco farming (157). They also held the view that freeing the slaves would result in widespread unemployment, and subsequently, uprisings and chaos. The defenders of slavery also argued that slavery in America mirrored slavery in other civilizations such as the Roman Empire and the Greek civilization and as such, represented a natural state of humankind. From a religious viewpoint, the defenders of slavery argued that, in religious books such as the Bible, slavery remained widespread with no spiritual leader speaking out against it. In other words, slavery bore moral justification, as no one opposed it during biblical times. The defenders of slavery also involved the courts to legalize slave trade and slave ownership. One example regards the Dred Scott Decision that ruled, â€Å"All blacks, including the slaves, lacked the legal right to launch anti-slavery case as they comprised the property of slave owners (Booth 163). Further, they held the view that the Constitution protected the right to ownership of property that included the slaves. The defenders of the slave trade also argued for the divine nature of slavery. They believed that their introduction of Christianity into Africa helped eliminate heathen practices. According to this argument, slavery was expedient for the slaves as it ended the heathen practices and brought civilization to Central Africa. In fact, John Calhoun remarked that â€Å"the black race of Central Africa attained a civilized condition physically, intellectually and morally with the introduction of slavery† (Demac 60). Others opposed to those campaigning for an end to s lavery argued that the slaves got better care when sick and aged compared to slaves in Europe and the poor Northern States of America. James Thornwell remarked in 1860 that the conflict between those for slavery and those opposing the institution resembled an argument between Atheists and Socialists on one hand and supporters of social order on the other (Booth 164). This shows that slavery during this era attracted support from various people in the then American society. Legal Cases Surrounding the Banning of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The basis for the banning of the novel involves the depiction of Jim as a black slave and the use of the word â€Å"nigger,†; considered racialist. After its publication in 1885, the novel was censored the same year by the Concord public library in Massachusetts. Initially, the book’s attack stemmed from what others termed as its lack of decency (Demac 59). Later, it was attacked as containing racist elements. However, at the t ime, no legal cases contributed to the censorship of the book; the ruling class perceived the use of the term â€Å"nigger† as racist while a deeper look reveals that the book advocated for an end to slavery. In 1902, the Brooklyn Public Library removed the book from its shelves for a different reason; they cited the use of vulgar language as the reason. In particular, the library considered the use of the words â€Å"sweats† instead of â€Å"perspiring† as obscene and unsuitable for children. In addition, the use of â€Å"scratched† instead of â€Å"itched† considered inappropriate at the time by the institution led to the removal of the book from the children’s section (Karolides 336). Additionally, the main character, Huck, portrayed a disrespectful attitude for authority. At the time, society expected literary works to convey higher social values rather than entertaining. This contributed to its censorship in most schools and public libr aries. However, soon after its publication, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn became an indispensable classic book in schools. Nevertheless, in 1957, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) protested against the inclusion of this book in the school curriculum due to its â€Å"racist aspects† (Karolides 36). The organization opposed the way the novel portrayed the slave, Jim, as equal to a young white boy, Huck, and a superior to the adult with regard to the decision-making ability. Additionally, As Donelson confirms, â€Å"†¦the entrenchment of Huck Finn into the curriculum of American schools coincided with a Supreme Court case involving Brown against Topeka Board of Education in 1954† (21). This case brought the segregation in public schools to an end. Subsequently, students in public schools comprised of both black and white children. In fact, â€Å"in 1957, the New York City Board of Education removed the book from the list of elementary school texts on the rationale that it contained passages considered derogatory to the Negroes†(Rationales 37). The admission of black children in public schools led to new protests against Huck Finn that culminated in the censorship of the book in schools and counties with a black population. Should Huck Finn Be Banned in Schools? Critics’ Opinion Those who fought for the inclusion of Huck Finn in the curriculum include teachers and school administrators. The teachers in Connecticut supported the idea that Huck Finn served as an influential role model for schoolchildren today (Culture Shock 4). They even developed the rationales for teaching the censored book in high schools. Norma Walrath, a committee member of the Connecticut Council of English Teachers, supported the teaching of this book, â€Å"for it shows the idea of humanism; compassion and respect of others unlike ourselves† (Rationales 37). She further explains that Huck Finn forms an indispen sable book for use in teaching students because it covers an extremely prominent part in American history: slavery and racial desegregation. Walrath remarks that Mark Twain uses the word â€Å"nigger† rather deliberately to display the imperfect nature of the developing democracy in America then (Rationales 38). As such, to ban the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in schools affects the teaching of American history and the evils of slavery: a valuable lesson that students in today’s schools should learn. Jocelyn Chadwick is another strong supporter of Huck Finn, who actively campaigned for the book to remain in the curriculum for juniors in Okla. Additionally, she engaged in numerous debates. She even wrote a book on the subject titled the Jim Dilemma: Reading Race in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which primarily describes the value of teaching Huck Finn to high school students in America (Culture Shock 2). Much of her argument focuses on the language references us ed in the book. She remarks, â€Å"Race relations remain a sensitive topic in America today, which serves to point the importance of Huck Finn because of the debate it engenders† (Carey-Webb 24). In the 1950s, many critics such as Leo Marx and Bernard DeVoto in their articles objected to the abrupt banning of the novel in schools. They noted a confluence of the Black and White cultures in Huck Finn’s story (Donelson 24). In addition, they cite prestigious American themes in the novel, such as the hypocrisy practiced by the Southern States with regard to the continuation of slavery and racial separation worthy to read. Ernest Hemingway, a renowned author and a supporter of the inclusion of Huck Finn in school curricula, remarks, â€Å"Modern American literature originated from Twain’s, Huckleberry Finn† (Carey-Webb 22). Thus, though the book underwent censorship on several occasions, it nevertheless remains a popular book in the country and schools should not ban the novel in the future. Conclusion The novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn appropriately describes slavery and racism in 19th Century America and this essay proves sufficient amount of reasons why Huck Finn should not be banned. Teachers should find ways to explain racism and its influence on modern-day society and culture with reference to the novel. The novel should remain in high school curriculum because it entails a fight against racism created, not through the racial aspects in the book, but the 19th Century capitalism. Works Cited Booth, Wayne. Censorship and the Values of Fiction. English Journal 53.3(1964): 155-164. Carey-Webb, Allen. Racism and Huckleberry Finn: Censorship, Dialogue, and Change. English Journal 82.7(1993): 22-33. Culture Shock. Born to Trouble: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. PBS. WGBH Educational Foundation. VHS 1999. 1-8 Demac, Donna. Liberty Denied; The Current Rise of Censorship in America. New York: PEN American Center, 1988. Donelson, K en. Filth’ and ‘Pure Filth’ in Our Schools—Censorship of Classroom Books in the Last Ten Years. English Journal 86.2(1997): 21-25. Karolides, Nicholas et al. 100 Banned Books: Censorship Histories of World Literature. New York: Checkmark Books, 1999. Schulten, Katherine. Huck Finn: Born to Trouble. English Journal 89.2 (1999): 55-59. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. England: Electronic Centre, 1885. Print. This research paper on Should Huck Finn Be Banned in Schools? Huckleberry Finn Should Not Be Banned was written and submitted by user Myla Ware 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.

Treating Jellyfish and Man-O-War Stings

Treating Jellyfish and Man-O-War Stings Its beach weather! The ocean is full of fun, but its also full of wildlife, including jellyfish. Do you know what to do if you or someone with you sees a jellyfish or is stung by one? You should know the answer to these questions before you go to the beach since an encounter with a jellyfish can be a painful or possibly lethal experience. As a matter of practical chemistry, your biggest risk from a jellyfish or man of war sting may come from improper first aid intended to deal with the venom, so pay attention...Question: What should you do if you see a jellyfish?Best Answer: Leave it alone.If its in the water, get away from it. If its on the beach and you need to walk around it, walk above it (dune side) rather than below it (surf side), since it may be trailing tentacles. Keep in mind a jellyfish does not need to be alive in order to sting you. Detached tentacles are capable of stinging and releasing venom for several weeks.My Actual Answer: It depends on what kind of jellyfish it i s.I realize if it looks like floating jelly, its considered a jellyfish, but there are different types of jellyfish and also animals that look like jellyfish but are something else entirely. Not all jellyfish can hurt you. The jellyball pictured above, for example, is common off the coast of South Carolina, where I live. What do you do when you see one? If you are a kid, youll probably pick it up and throw it at another kid (unless its alive and then you avoid it because they kind of hurt when the waves throw one at you). This is a non-venomous jellyfish. Most parts of the world have non-venomous jellyfish, which tend to be easy-to-spot. Its the jellyfish you dont see that present the biggest threat. Many jellyfish are transparent. You probably wont see them in the water, so if you are stung you wont know exactly what got you. If you see a jellyfish and dont know what type it is, treat it like a venomous species and get away from it.Question: How do I treat a jellyfish sting?Answer: Act quickly and calmly to remove the tentacles, stop the stinging, and deactivate any toxin.Here is where people get confused because the best steps to take depend on what type of animal cau sed the sting. Heres a good basic strategy, especially if you dont know what caused the sting: Get out of the water. Its easier to deal with the sting and it takes drowning out of the equation.Rinse the affected area with sea water. Do not use fresh water! Fresh water will cause any stinging cells that havent fired (called nematocysts) to do so and release their venom, possibly worsening the situation. Do not rub sand on the area (same reason).If you see any tentacles, carefully lift them off the skin and remove them with a stick, shell, credit card, or towel (just not your bare hand). They will stick to swimwear, so use caution touching clothing.Keep an eye on the victim. If you see any signs of an allergic reaction, call 911 immediately. Symptoms could include difficulty breathing, nausea, or dizziness. Some redness and swelling is normal, but if it spreads outward from the sting or if you see hives on other parts of the body, that could indicate an allergic response. If you suspect a reaction, do not hesitate to seek medical attention!Now... if you are sure the sting is fro m a jellyfish and not a Portuguese Man of War (shown below, the Man of War is not a true jellyfish) or any other animal, you can use chemistry to your advantage to inactivate the toxin, which is a protein. (Technically the venom tends to be a mixture of polypeptides and proteins including catecholamines, histamine, hyaluronidase, fibrolysins, kinins, phospholipases, and assorted toxins). How do you inactivate proteins? You can change the temperature or acidity by applying heat or an acid or base, such as vinegar or baking soda or diluted ammonia, or even an enzyme, such as the papain found in papaya and meat tenderizer. However, chemicals may cause the stinging cells to fire, which is bad news for someone allergic to jellyfish toxin or anyone stung by a Portuguese Man of War. If you do not know what caused the sting or if you suspect it is from a Man of War, do not apply fresh water or any chemical. Your best course of action is to apply heat to the affected area since it penetrates the skin and inactivates the toxin without causing more venom to be injected. Also, heat quickly helps alleviate the pain of the sting. Hot seawater is great, but if you dont have that handy, use any warmed object. Some people carry aloe vera gel, Benadryl cream, or hydrocortisone cream. Im not sure how effective the aloe is, but Benadryl is an antihistamine, which may help limit an allergic response to the sting. Hydrocortisone can help reduce inflammation. If you seek medical attention and used Benadryl or hydrocortisone, be sure to alert the medical professionals. Acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen commonly are used to relieve pain.The Portuguese Man of War (Physalia physalis) looks a lot like a jellyfish, but it is a different animal. While the blue or pink sail cannot harm you, the trailing tentacles pack a potentially-lethal sting. The tentacles can sting you even if the animal is dead.

Impact of Globalization on Small Businesses in Canada Research Proposal

Impact of Globalization on Small Businesses in Canada - Research Proposal Example There has been increasing emphasis on the impact of globalization on the small businesses all over the globe. On one hand, it is perceived that globalization is beneficial for the growth and development of the overall global economy. But, on the other hand, according to some of the analysts globalization have negative implications for different organizations and economies. There have been several research studies in order to understand and explore the impact of the globalization.According to the research study conducted by Julien, Joyal, and Deshaies (1994), that small and medium enterprises (SME’s) in the small regions of Quebec started to take different defensive measures and secure their competitive position in the market in response to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) of 1988 between United States of American and Canada. This research study also concluded that the main challenge for the Small and medium enterprises (SME’s) in the era of globalization and free trade is to come up with effective and efficient strategies in order to respond to the increasing competition from the organizations all over the world.Another important aspect of globalization is related to the changing technology and its implications on the business. In this regard, Dholakia & Kshetri (2004), conducted research for identifying the different factors which influence the internet adoption process of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME). For this purpose, the researchers conducted a mail survey in order to test the research hypothesis. This research study concluded that there are several internal and external factors responsible for the adoption of the internet in Small and Medium enterprises (SME). However, most prominent external pressure in this regard if of the increasing global competitive pressure. The research study could have been able to generate more comprehensive results if it would have included the adoption

Emotional Intelligence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Emotional Intelligence - Essay Example a conclusion through rational logic, rather than a highly driven emotional state that could lead towards a heightened sense of mental capacity that would be erratically charged. In the changing business climate, owners are faced with the task of initiating business practices that seek to maximize capabilities of staff to reaching the overall goals to be met by the corporation itself. Enabling stakeholders in the group process to work together in such a manner that they are able to perform the necessary tasks involved for proper management and production decisions. When it comes to such things, â€Å"As thinking human beings, we value our rationality and cognitive powers that set us apart from the animal kingdom. The neo-cortex, the center for rational thinking and decision-making, is the newer part of the brain that is highly developed in humans. The emotional parts of the brain are located in the more ancient, central parts of the brain called the limbic system, including the amygdala, the center active during anger,† Going on to say that, â€Å"All emotions are in essence impulses to act. The very root of the word is from the Latin verb to move. That emotions lead to actions is obvious from watching animals or children. Only in civilized adults do we expect actions to be divorced from emotional reactions. But even as highly intelligent and civilized adults, we can never disengage our emotional brain ¾ it is always there, sending emotional signals to act and react, even when there is no logic. Most people believe that emotions are caused by events. They are in fact caused by our interpretations of events, sometimes so fleeting and fast as to be beneath the level of consciousness. Our pre-conscious, split-second thoughts give rise to automatic emotional reactions. We then have a choice as to how we behave, what we say, and how we handle a situation. The appropriateness of our actions and the effectiveness of our communications make up our emotional intelligence. A

Marketing research Exploring University of Leicester Students Essay

Marketing research Exploring University of Leicester Students Perception of Healthy Eating and Food Consumption - Essay Example It is been seen that carbohydrate consumption depends on consumers mood. When students get depressed they usually consume carbohydrate more. But excessive consumption of carbohydrate can cause obesity. According to several research reports consumptions of unhealthy food can cause stress and depression. During stressed situations students overeat foods to relief it but in normal situation they would avoid overeating (Rodriguez, 2012). Stress in student life directly proportional to overweight, unhealthy food consumption and try to blindly copy food habit from advertisement. Shifted of food choices from lower fat contain food to higher fat contain food can happen among the students because of stress (Blum, 2011). In past couple of research it is been found that during exams or before the exams or final year project or thesis submission or campus interview consumption of foods in canteen or hostel increase in great extent. Students do that to relief the stress from their head and try to distract themselves from subjects. Senior female students are getting weight because of less eating of vegetables, high-stress and consumption of high cholesterol foods. In research 65% of UOL students replied that they have high academic stress in their university and 50% of the students replied that they eat very unhealthy food regularly in their university in lunch time (Laria, 2012). This is the prior time to understand the eati ng pattern of students. If stress and depressive mood can lead to the unhealthy food habit then on the other hand good mood and excellent psychiatric situation can lead to healthy and nutritional food habit (Kwate, 2010). University students have the liberty to choose their own food and as they spent more time outside the home they usually eat less homemade food and more outside food. Eating behaviour and knowledge on nutritional diet formed in young adult age that is the college and university time. So making students

The role of violence in prostitution

The role of violence in prostitution This essay will discuss the theories that exist behind this statement and will look beyond the notion that prostitution involves violence to the prostitute herself (which often it does). There are differing views on this statement which usually depend on which philosophical theory is being put forward. Radical feminists as a whole support the view that prostitution is sexual violence for the reasons discussed below. Radical feminists view prostitution as a form of male dominance and exploitation over women and which reinforces the existing patriarchal order of society. They think that prostitution has a very negative and detrimental effect both on the prostitutes themselves and on the whole of society because stereotypical views of women are reinforced when they are viewed as sexual objects which exist for the amusement and delectation of men. The main objection to prostitution by feminists is the male dominance angle, whereby the man who buys the woman has sex with her, but it is not an enjoyable experience and she is forced to try and dissociate herself from the man. In this way she is a mere object of pleasure for the man and the sex act is not given on an equal or mutual basis. The woman is thus reduced to a conduit for the mans gratification. These feminists believe that many clients use the services of a prostitute because they derive satisfaction from the power trip and the control they exercise over the woman during the sex encounter. Catharine MacKinnon thinks that prostitution isnt sex only, its you do what I say, sex.  [1]   Prostitution is seen as a product of the patriarchal societal order in which men are superior to women and where the gender inequality is present in all walks of life. Such views consider that prostitution perpetuates the notion that women can be bought and sold like a commodity, providing sexual services for the sole purpose of satisfying men. Feminists are very critical of the patriarchal ideology which has justified prostitution throughout time. This ideology sees prostitution as a necessary evil with men unable to control their desires and so it is necessary for a small number of women to sacrifice their life and be used and abused by men in order that the majority can be protected from rape and abuse. Here prostitution is seen as form of slavery. These feminists argue that in fact prostitution does not reduce the incidents of rape but in fact it leads to a noticeable increase in sexual violence against women by letting men think it is perfectly acceptable to treat a woman as a s exual repository over which they have ultimate control. In Nevada, the only American state which permits legal brothels, Melissa Farley argues that the states high rape rate is directly connected to legal prostitution.  [2]  Nevada ranks fourth out of the fifty states for sexual assault crimes and its rape rate is higher than the American average. Given that brothels are legal in Nevada one would expect that it would be at the bottom end of the scale in the number of such crimes. Farley argues that legal prostitution creates an environment where women are not humans equal to men and are thus disrespected by men which in turn leads to increased violence against women. Feminists argue that prostitution is detrimental to society and that when society accepts it, the message is sent that it is irrelevant how the woman feels during sex. Some countries are addressing the undesirability of prostitution and in 1999 Sweden became the first country to make paying for sex a crime although being a prostitute was not criminalised. Other countries including Norway and Iceland followed Swedens lead in 1999. These laws reinforce the views of feminists who in their opposition to prostitution also conclude that it is not a practice which can be made safe by reformation and thus they criticise any harm reduction approach. One former Canadian prostitute, Trisha Baptie now campaigns to outlaw the buying of sexual favours and she has said that Harm reduction? You cant make prostitution safer; prostitution is violence in itself. It is rape, the money only appeases mens guilt.  [3]  In this view although the prostitute is seen to be consenting to sex, her acquiescen ce is not freely given and the payment just makes the man think that he has not committed rape because the woman has received a financial benefit. These so called radical feminists see prostitution as a form of violence against women and are adamant that it should be made illegal as in Sweden. These feminists are particularly scathing of another feminist point of view which argues that prostitution should be legalised because it is here to stay. The radical feminists argue that rape and murder have also existed for numerous years and will continue to do so, but no one argues that rape and murder should be made legal. The radical feminists who campaign against the notion of legalising prostitution in order to control and regulate it thereby reducing its harmful effects compare this to the abhorrent notion of legalising domestic violence in order to control and reduce its harmful effects. Just as you cannot legislate to make domestic violence a little bit better the same applies to prostitution. This attitude evolves from their belief that prostitution is sexual violence and should be treated as such whereby it should be eradicat ed not controlled in their eyes. Another major objection to prostitution voiced by feminists is that in most cases a woman who enters into prostitution does not do so on the basis of a cold calculated decision because they are forced by a pimp or human trafficking, the latter being an example of enforced prostitution. Even where the decision is seemingly made voluntarily and rationally it often stems from chronic problems earlier in life. Such problems usually revolve around drug addiction, childhood sexual abuse and similar unsavoury circumstances. In other words, the feminist argument views the decision to become a prostitute as spawning and emanating directly from such earlier experiences and circumstances. If the consent is lacking then you end up with compliance at best. Capacity is vital in making an informed decision and according to one study the average age of children when they become prostitutes is twelve at which age they are not of sufficient age to consent to sex.  [4]  They see such women being dr iven into prostitution which means that sexual violence they may have experienced in childhood or adolescence is extended through their adult lives through prostitution. Feminists argue that most women enter prostitution against their own volition. Prostitutes are generally made up of women from the lower socio economic classes including poor and uneducated women from the most disadvantaged racial and ethnic minorities MacKinnon 1993. MacKinnon also argues that In prostitution, women have sex with men thay would never otherwise have sex with. The money thus acts as a form of force, not a measure of consent, It acts like physical force does in rape.  [5]   Some scholars of prostitution maintain that genuine consent in prostitution is not plausible. One has to search at great lengths through academic literature to find many authors who agree that authentic consent is possible or at least likely.  [6]   Trauma research has been criticized for its failure to attend to social attitudes and behaviors which cause trauma. One of Vanwesenbeecks (1994) respondents described prostitution as volunteer slavery, clearly articulating both the appearance of choice and the overwhelming coercion behind that choice. The extreme violence suffered by these respondents suggests that we can not view prostitution as a neutral activity or simply as a vocational choice. Instead, prostitution must be understood as sexual violence against women (Kemp, Rawlings, Green, 1991). The focus of attention is on changing a social system, which makes prostitution possible. An alternative view of prostitution emanates from the libertarian pro sex work perspective who oppose the radical feminists view that prostitution amounts to sexual violence whereby the sexual act occurs because of coercion exploitation and domination by men. Pro sex feminists argue that prostitution can be an affirmation by women that they have autonomy over their bodies. As such prostitution is an informed and genuinely free choice. Some prostitutes are high class call girls who are well educated and sophisticated women. They realise that at the upper end of the market there are huge sums of money to be made for seemingly very little effort. Pro-sex feminists argue that the selling of sexual favours need not be inherently exploitative and that and accordingly deny that it is sexual violence. Pro sex workers such as Carol Queen argue that the radical feminists who oppose prostitution and view it as sexual violence have failed to take into account the views and opinions of prostitutes themselves, preferring to rely in theory and obsolete experiences.  [7]   Pro sex feminists view the prostitute as being in control and that they in fact control the man as they set the price. Prostitution is seen by some as sexual violence which brings massive economic rewards for some involved. The sex industry, like any other worldwide enterprise, has numerous sectors based in various locations which are controlled by various managers and is expanding as the law and public opinion allow.  [8]   Whether or not one decides if prostitution is sexual violence depends on your view as to the reasons why women participate in prostitution. If prostitution is viewed as a legal form of rape then undoubtedly you will agree with the proposition. It can also be viewed as a form of emotional violence with prostitutes becoming emotionally battered. The radical feminists gender based view that prostitution is a form of male sexual violence against women does not address the fact that male prostitutes exist

Resturant Law Essay -- essays research papers

In the business world every business has its own set of laws and regulations to follow and adhere too. Some have very few laws and others have so many it is mind numbing but, each law is set up to protect every worker, customer or person associated with that business’s location. However, some of these laws are outdated or just plain unnecessary in today’s 21st century business environment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The business that I chose to examine is the restaurant industry. I chose it because I have a great love for cooking and I hope to someday open my own restaurant. It made great sense to learn some of the laws now while still in school that could impact my future business endeavors. First I will review the laws and regulations pertinent to the restaurant business and then I will explain the impact of those laws on the restaurant business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first laws that I found were the laws from OSHA. OSHA contains many laws that are designed to create a safe workplace and keep workers out of situations that can be potentially harmful. Without OSHA many workplaces would be a lot more unsafe than they are now. OSHA reduced the number of work place injuries and deaths, making it one of the most important sets of laws to govern all business and especially the restaurant business.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  OSHA calls for two different types of fire prevention equipment to be placed in all restaurants. First it calls for automatic sprinklers to be installed per OSHA standards. These standards are that they have a certain spraying pattern, densities, water flow that can cover the whole area that it is above. After meeting those specs the business then has to get the system to meet water supply standards. Basically the standard is that the system has a water supply that can flow for thirty minutes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next statute that must be met is the piping needs to be protected from freezing and corrosion from the surrounding environment. This assures that if a fire occurs the piping will be able to take the water pressure that is flowing through to the sprinkler system. Also it calls for the system to have a proper drainage system that allows the system to drop the water from the sprinkler system and then have it drain back into a reservoir. The final statute from OSHA 1910.159 is that the sprinklers be space... ...and not even paid in a way that allows them to live in a normal way.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There is only one change that I feel the Department of Labor should enact. That is a raise in the minimum wage. Many friends I have work so hard for their $5.25 and never really have much to show for it. If the minimum wage was raised many people who are working two part time jobs to make ends meet would have a better chance of making those ends meet. Not to mention raising minimum wage could spur the economy by placing more spending power into the hands of the demographics that tend to spend the most, the youth of America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In this country we have seen the world of business change over and over. As the country has grown so has the need to keep our workers safe and happy. The laws I have discussed are meant to keep the restaurant industry a safe and happy place for the many people who work in them day in and day out. Without those laws the restaurant industry would not be a very healthy or safe place to frequent as much as American people do. So each of the laws are essential to making the industry profitable and safe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is a story which gives many symbolisms in an attempt to draw the connection between reality and illusion, fact and fiction. More importantly, the characters in the story appear to face certain difficulties in relating to reality, or accepting reality at the least. It goes to show that the story is one which emphasizes the shortcomings of human beings or their dire attempts to understand the things that go beyond the capacity of their minds to comprehend.There are several symbolisms or images in the story which highlight the attempt to bridge reality and fiction, to the point that creates an image of the surreal. For instance, the fire escape scene in the beginning part of the story illustrates Mr. Wingfield’s world of illusion bridged by the fire escape towards the real world. The bridge which is symbolized by the fire escape appears to be a one-way passage, although this would have to vary in context especially in terms of the pe rception of every character. For example, Tom sees the ‘bridge’ as the escape route away from the illusory world of Laura and Amanda and into the real world.On the other hand, Laura sees the bridge as the way that leads straight into her world, one which is a path that gives an escape from the world of reality (Bluefarb, p. 515). This variation in the interpretation of the ‘bridge’ or of the fire escape tells us something which can hardly be noticed on first reading. Given the observation that there is a difference in the perception of Tom and Laura about the fire escape and, hence, their desire to go for the real world or the illusory world, it tells us that The Glass Menagerie initially presents the ways in which people could prefer one over the other (King, p. 09).It gives us the initial impression that certain individuals may prefer the world of illusions over the world of reality, and the other way around can also be said about other people. In the lon g run, the disparity regarding the appreciation of either worlds by certain individuals tells us that one can hardly express one’s ‘world’ to others when others are unwilling to be a part of that world. The case of Tom and Laura presents the contrast wherein one wants the real world whereas the other wants to get away from it.It’s not only a simply disparity of beliefs or of inclinations. It is also a disparity of what one abhors or seeks to get away from which, ironically, does not apply to everybody else. Tom also has the habit of going to movie houses watching films, one which symbolizes his desire to escape reality and go towards places which can draw him nearer to a world of fantasy. His routine of escaping his apartment and proceeding to the movies tells us how his preference for the movies has become ‘habituated’, thereby pushing Tom to lose his interest for the real world.It pushes him to the point of having more interest for the movie s than having more interest for his life in the apartment. More importantly, it pushes him to the point of having more interest for the world of fantasy, or of illusion, than having more interest in the real world. Mr. Wingfield’s absorption into the thought of long distance voices from people he could not see but only hear through his telephone company led to his abandonment of the family.This symbolizes the idea that one’s responsibilities towards those who are dearest to the person can be overridden by one’s desires in life. Mr. Wingfield symbolizes the modern man who is willing to abandon one’s family just to pursue the things that one is inclined to do and the things that one is beholden to. It symbolizes man’s weakness before the bigger things that lay before him, the things which can bring both realizations to one’s aspirations and destruction to one’s beloved family. Jim O’Connor is another character in the story which represents something interesting.Despite the fact that Jim is more of an ‘average man’ lacking any outstanding qualities in life, he is a person who Laura sees as the representation of reality—the reality which Laura fears and seeks to escape. For Amanda, Jim is the type of person who symbolizes her youthful days, the times when she gone frolicking with many men. Apparently, Amanda and Laura see Jim as a person who reminds them of quite different things. For Amanda, Jim is reminder of her younger days. On the other hand, he is a fearful reminder of the real world for Laura.This situation gives us the impression where two people have differing interpretations of the importance or role of other people in their lives. One person can reflect differing reminders to others, which is indeed ironic precisely because there is only one person where the ‘reminders’ emanate from. This goes to show that the things which sow fear into our hearts and cast reminders of our younger days can only do so through the ways in which we comprehend those things. It can then be said that the ways in which we relate others to our fears and memories depend on the way in which we appreciate others.That is one of the symbolisms being taught to us by The Glass Menagerie, giving the readers the idea that the ways in which we view the world really depends on how we appreciate the world, and that the divide between the world of illusions and the world of reality is either diminished or reinforced depending on what we make out of that apparent division. Laura’s glass menagerie is perhaps one of the most obvious objects of symbolism in the story which further highlights the apparent division between the real world and the illusory world.Laura’s glass collection symbolizes who she is, relating to those glass objects very strongly as if she and her glass collection are one and the same beings (Gunn, p. 370). For the most part, whatever that the glass menageries represent is also the same representation for Laura. For example, the time when Laura told Jim that the unicorn is different from the rest of the glass menageries can also be said to symbolize how Laura is different from other people. Laura also pointed out that even though the unicorn is different from the rest, it does not complain out of that difference.That can also be said to directly represent Laura’s view that even though she is seen as different from other people she does not even bother complaining about that. There is also the time when Tom accidentally broke some of Laura’s glass menagerie after rushing to go to the movies which symbolizes the instance where Tom broke his responsibilities to Laura. It should also be noted that glass, when shone upon with light, refracts that light into a spectrum of colors like a rainbow. In the same manner, the life of Laura, when penetrated by other people—like Tom, Amanda and Jim—will also show th e different sides of Laura.The variety of her glass collections tells us that she is indeed not only a dull person living a monotonous life. Rather, the inner part of her self will reveal the multitude of personalities she has once shone into by the light of others. Perhaps it can also be said that Laura has the capacity to reveal to others the many sides to her personality if only those who are close to her will have the time to pause for a while and give her enough attention. One of the more interesting parts of the story is the scene where the horns of Laura’s unicorns are broken off, making the unicorn just any other ‘normal’ horse.That scene symbolizes the idea that one need first be ‘broken’ in order to become normal just like other people. That idea very much applies to Laura since she is seen as an ‘unusual’ individual trapped in her world of illusions. The part where Jim breaks the heart of Laura can also be said as the part whe re the horn of the unicorn is broken off, thus making Laura any other normal person in the real world. Breaking a person is oftentimes needed just to awaken that person back to the real world where ‘normal’ people live.Glass is also said to be a very delicate object that can easily be broken when not properly taken good care of. In the story, it is obvious that the glass menageries of Laura represent her delicate personality, one which can easily be shattered into many pieces and never to be put back to their original state again once broken (Rogoff, p. 89). And like the case when the unicorn’s horn was broken, the time when Laura seemed broken after Jim’s revelation would separate her from her world of illusions for the rest of her life.In real life, people do not change quite easily to the point that they would first have to experience a life-shattering moment in their lives. Sometimes it requires an experience which is truly life-changing in many ways, one that challenges the very personality of the person in both heart and soul, mounting into like an insurmountable challenge that pierces right through one’s emotions. The hardest part of it all would have to be the part where everything seems to be unclear, the part where everything seems to be in their harshest levels, thus prompting one to almost give up on life.Yet those who are able to transcend the hardest moments in life are perhaps those who are able to break away from their shells, out of their world of fantasies and illusions and into the real world, taking them back to a normal life where they rightfully belong. Indeed, the glass collections of Laura deeply represent her personality, and that whatever happens to the glass objects has something to do with Laura as well. Given the fact that the glass objects are ‘clear’, it can also be said that one can easily see through the personality of Laura no matter how hard she may try to hide it in her illusory world (Scheidler, p. 5). With that in mind, it should be the case that people close to Laura should very well be able to understand her situation and comprehend her feelings without difficulty. Apparently, this is certainly not the case as those people close to her even have a hard time putting enough attention to Laura. That is so because each of the individuals in the story do not share the same world that Laura has. Tom, Amanda and Jim all have their own respective ‘worlds’, so to speak. There is also hardly any ‘convergence’ among the worlds of the characters as each of them is busy trying to live with the world that they each live in.Perhaps the most intriguing analysis of the symbolisms in the story is that they transcend the characters in the story. That is, the symbolisms in the story actually represent the life of the author, Tennessee Williams, given the fact that the story is a ‘memory’ play. If indeed it is the case that The Glass Menagerie represents the life of Tennessee Williams, then it can hardly be doubted that for at least once in his life the author has experienced moments in his life where he was broken, taking his life back to the real world away from the world where his illusions once defined who he is (Loney, p. 9). In conclusion, there are many ways of interpreting the symbolisms and imageries in The Glass Menagerie inasmuch as there are numerous symbols and images in the story where representations can be made. Nevertheless, the substance of the story tells us that the story as a whole reflects the idea of breaking away from the world of illusions in order to be truly normal.

You Can Take the Slave Out Essays - Discrimination, Racism, Hatred

You Can Take the Slave Out Essays - Discrimination, Racism, Hatred You Can Take the Slave Out Of Slavery but You Cant Take Slavery Out of the Slave There is a famous quote that I always hear people say, and it states, You can change the player, but the game remains the same (Unkown). This quote is commonly used by females to explain, even though males may come in different colors, shapes, forms, and sizes, they have the same intensions. In my own opinion, that same quote can apply to racial inequality, mainly known as racism. The reason I applied this quote to racism is, no matter how equal the media and other sources say America is, it is not. No matter how many black friends a white person has there are still white people who dislike blacks, and vice versa. Lastly, everyday a child and or children somewhere in America is being taught strong hatred for people not of their race, and the cycle continues. Even though racism is not as prominent and as blunt as it once was, it will never end. Society has come a long ways in terms of racial equality, racism, and prejudice; society for the most part has come together as one and overlook the color of one anothers skin. It is rare to see someone refused service because he or she is a certain color, and there are plenty other of examples. However, even though the majority of the country is together as one, there is still that small fraction of whites who hate black and vice versa, Hispanics who hate Asians and vice versa. That small is what hinders the full equality, the peace, the togetherness, and the love of all races. No matter how society tries to hide the fact racism is still in existence and is still affecting lives through mass media, it still lurks around the United States. For that small fraction of people who continue acts of racism it is not their fault, nurture plays a major role. No one is born racist, no is born hating blacks, no one is born hating whites, no one is born hating Hispanics, and no one is born hati ng Asians. This is all something that is taught with in the home, which in turn effects the United States ever ridding itself of racism and racial inequality. The person I am today is not because I was born this way, young man I am today is because of the guidance, and the constant teaching learning and teaching from my mother, father, grandmother, and life experiences. For the most part, I did not choose to be the way I am, I was taught to be this way. The same way I was taught to be who I am is the same way racist become racist, they were taught and bred that way, not born. The way each of us are as individuals is a for the most part a clear reflection of our parents and our environment. Those who are racists today will teach their kids how to be racist as well, and those kids will teach their kids, and it will continue throughout that generation. With that being said, as long as racists continue to preach and teach racist behavior racism will never come to an end When I see someone, yes, I see that person for what skin color; however I do not treat him or her a certain way because of it. I treat that person the way anyone would want to be treated, with respect. I believe we should judge and treat people according to the content of their character and not the color of their skin (Martin Luther King, Jr.). Racism has destroyed this land and will continue to destroy the land. This is not a problem that can be fix, it will continue until the world ends, especially because of the constant teachings of racism and acts of racism being done to one another. Will racism ever come to an end, no I do not think so, but I pray that it does

Dances With Wolves- Lakota Sioux essays

Dances With Wolves- Lakota Sioux essays Dances With Wolves, an academe award-winning movie, is about a solder that is united with a Sioux tribe. This movie however does not go into much detail about the Sioux tribes life. The Tribe has a very orderly system within its government, how their women are incorporated within the daily tribes duties, and how the tribes uses its land and its surroundings. As stated above, the Sioux tribe has a very stable government system. The tribe believes in the separation of power within the group, almost comparable to how the United States is ran on the checks and balances system. The tribe even has an attorney general who provides the enforcement of the codes of ethics, codes of the land, and the codes of commerce. If there is an appeal to the codes or anything to that nature, then they can appeal it to the Supreme Court level group. At the head or center of the tribe are the Board Members. The members are usually the elders of the tribe and are chosen by their wisdom, integrity, and knowledge of their culture. This is seen in the movie when Kevin Costners character is first taken to the tribe and he gets to be in the meeting. Women can also be involved in the government system, though it was not shown very good in the film. The women in the tribe are not excluded form the government as like it has been in the western civilizations. The main reason that women are involved in decision-making is because the tribe believes that input of all views are necessary for the stability of the tribe. Some of the jobs that women held or could do within the government were being able to choose or fire a chief and they also helped negotiate treaties. In some rare cases, women could even be chief. At the very lest, women could influence their husbands. Which was commonly done. This was portrayed in the movie when the wife asked the husband if their daughter was done mourning. The Sioux also had many uses with the land. As showed in ...

How students use social media Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

How students use social media - Assignment Example According to the research carried out by Lenhart et al. (2010), people between 18 and 29 years of age account for 57 per cent of the total population of users of the social networks and maintain personal profiles on a range of social media websites. Pempek, Yermolayeva, and Calvert (2009) noted that although the amount of time spent by the users on social networking websites varied considerably, yet a vast majority of the users spend up to half an hour a day socializing on the social networking sites mostly from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m whereas students spend 47 minutes a day on the Facebook on average. More than half of the total population of students in colleges visits social networking sites numerously in a day (Sheldon, 2008). Types of social media commonly used by the students include but are not limited to blogs, chats on Twitter and Facebook, social networks, wikis, podcasts, videos, photo sharing on sites like Flickr, and gamification. A blog is a webpage or website that can easily be updated. Authors of blogs write regular entries in the format of a diary. The most interesting and effective blogs provide the students with an opportunity to engage in conversations with the bloggers as well as other readers who have commented on the blogs. Microblogging, as the name implies, is the process of writing very brief blog posts, that are sort of text messages. Presently, the most popular service of microblogging is provided by Twitter that provides the students with the opportunity to post the entries as long as 140 characters. Using Twitter, students can not only read their messages online but also can send their posts as text messages to one another’s mobiles. Social networking websites like Faceboo k serve as platforms using which the students can connect with one another and engage in different kinds of activities both academic and otherwise. Facebook and MySpace

The World According to Miranda July Research Paper

The World According to Miranda July - Research Paper Example While she attended U.C. Santa Cruz only for a few years, her subsequent move to Portland, Oregon began the catalyst that would push her career forward and convince her to pursue her creative impulses as a career, whether in film, writing, performance art or music (Durbin 2005). Â  Portland was an artist-friendly location where Ms. July could flourish and grow as a performance artist. In 1996, now an experimental filmmaker, she began a project called Joanie4Jackie as a way to inspire and showcase the works of female filmmakers, soliciting short films that would then be put on videotape and distributed as a cinematic chain letter (Wenclas 2010). She later created a second collection of submitted films called the Co-Star series. The Joanie4Jackie series would eventually find a larger audience through screenings at film festivals and DIY events. Her level of creative success and the productive nature of her portfolio would continue to grow. Â  Why the newly defined focus on filmmaking? For Ms. July, the move was a natural progression as she matured creatively and understood that the power of film allows the author a unique means of expression that other creative mediums may lack. As she told an interviewer for Believer Magazine: Â  I became really interested in how much I could show this hard-to-articulate, kind of magical or somewhat ephemeral things through really worldly, grounded ways. And it just seemed like this medium was good for that. (Horowitz 2005) Â  Artistically preoccupied with the human condition, primarily the weight of loneliness and our desire to relieve that burden through some type of personal connection, Ms. July breathes life into the mundane.