Bigger Thomas as America’s Native Son :: Essays Papers

Bigger Thomas as America’s Native Son In the novel the Native Son, the author Richard Wright explores racism and oppression in American society. Wright skillfully merges his narrative voice into Bigger Thomas so that the reader can also feel how the pressure and racism affects the feelings, thoughts, self-image, and life of a Negro person. Bigger is a tragic product of American imperialism and exploitation in a modern world. Bigger embodies one of humankind’s greatest tragedies of how mass oppression permeates all aspects of the lives of the oppressed and the oppressor, creating a world of misunderstanding, ignorance, and suffering. The novel is loaded with a plethora of imageries of a hostile white world. Wright shows how white racism affects the behavior, feelings, and thoughts of Bigger. â€Å"Everytime I think about it I feel like somebody’s poking a red-hot iron down my throat†¦We live here and they live there. We black and they white. They got things and we ain’t. They do things and we can’t†¦I feel like I’m on the outside the world peeping in through a knot-hole in the fence†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (20). Bigger’s sense of constriction and of confinement is very palpable to the reader. Wright also uses a more articulate voice to accurately describe the oppressive conditions of a Negro person. An anonymous black cellmate, a university student cries out, †You make us live in such crowded conditions†¦that one out of every ten of us is insane†¦you dump all stale foods into the Black Belt and sell them for more than you can get anywhere else†¦You tax us, but you wont build hospitals†¦the schools are so crowded that they breed perverts†¦you hire us last and fire us first†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (318). Bigger’s sense of constriction by the white world is so strong that he has no doubt that â€Å"something awful’s going to happen to me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (21). Nowhere in this novel can the reader see a greater example of Bigger’s fear and sense of constriction than in the accidental death of Mary Dalton. The all-encompassing fear that the white world has bred in Bigger takes over when he is in Mary’s room and in danger of being discovered by Mrs. Dalton. This internalized social oppression literally forces his hands to hold the pillow over Mary’s face, suffocating her. Bigger believes that a white person would assume that he was in the room to rape the white girl.

The History of Body Modification

The History and Culture of Body Modification What is body modification and why has it had such a large impact on society? For centuries humans have been using their bodies as a canvas to identify themselves to the rest of society. Body modification lets a person stand out or blend in; it allows people to describe who they are and where they come from without saying a word. There are many forms of body modification such as Tattooing, Scarification, Piercings, Stretching, Plastic Surgery, and Corseting. Each form holds a story, a reason why it is done. In the past three decades, Western body art has not only become a practice, and in some quarters a fashion, that has crossed social boundaries of class and gender, â€Å"high† culture and â€Å"low,† but also it has been greatly influenced by â€Å"tribal† practices, past and present. † (Enid Schildkrout, Inscribing the Body, Para 10 line 8) Tattooing The history of tattooing stems back thousands of years from all over the world for all different reasons. â€Å"In terms of tattoos on actual bodies, the earliest known examples were for a long time Egyptian and were present on several female mummies dated to c. 000 B. C. But following the more recent discovery of the Iceman from the area of the Italian-Austrian border in 1991 and his tattoo patterns, this date has been pushed back a further thousand years when he was carbon-dated at around 5,200 years old. The distribution of the tattooed dots and small crosses on his lower spine and right knee and ankle joints correspond to areas of strain-induced degeneration, with the suggestion that they may have been applied to alleviate joint pain and were therefore essentially therapeutic.This would also explain their somewhat ‘random' distribution in areas of the body which would not have been that easy to display had they been applied as a form of status marker. † (Cate Lineberry, Tattoos -The Ancient and Mysterious History, Para 2 and 3) There is evidence that women in Ancient Egypt had tattoos on various parts of their bodies, some on their inner thighs or on their hips, these tattoos were thought to help alleviate the pain of childbirth. â€Å"Tattooing of ancient Egyptian women had a therapeutic role and functioned as a permanent form of amulet during the very difficult time of pregnancy and birth.This is supported by the pattern of distribution, largely around the abdomen, on top of the thighs and the breasts, and would also explain the specific types of designs, in particular the net-like distribution of dots applied over the abdomen. † (Cate Lineberry, Tattoos – The Ancient and Mysterious History, page 2, Para 2, line 4) Scarification Scarification is another form of putting design on the human body. Scarification also known as cicatrization changes the skins texture by cutting into the skin and then controlling how the skin heals.Many substances can be added to the cuts to turn the scars int o raised bumps, or change the color of the skin. â€Å"In some cultures, a smooth, unmarked skin represents an ideal of beauty, but people in many others see smooth skin as an unfinished, unattractive surface† (American Museum of Natural History http://www. amnh. org/exhibitions/bodyart/glossary. html#totop, para 10) In South Africa the practice of Scarification has lasted centuries and the techniques used to produce the scared images have been passed from generation to generation.The custom of scarification is usually carried out by the young women of the tribe as a sign of beauty. The scar designs can be found on the chest, stomach and backs of the tribal women. The following image shows three Tembu women with decorative scarification. Piercings Body piercing is probably one of the more welcomed forms of body modification and involves piercing anything from earlobes to noses and even sexual body parts. Throughout history body piercings have been used to show status and age, and as wards and talismans.There are many different types of piercings and many different reasons each was used. Sailors would get a gold earring to help improve eyesight, Ancient Egyptian women would pierce their belly buttons to ward off demons from entering through the belly button and harming their unborn children, Roman soldiers would pierce the nipple area of their armor. In many cultures ear piercings are done to show that the recipient of the piercing has reached puberty. In Borneo the parents of the child each take turns piercing an earlobe to symbolize the child’s dependence on their parents.During the time of the Roman Empire, Roman soldiers would wear upper body armor that was shaped like a man’s chest they pierced the armor where the nipples would be and used those rings to clasp their cloaks into place. This practice lead to the belief that they would only clasp their cloaks to actual nipple rings. Women of the 14th century were known for wearing such lo w necklines that their nipples were often visible, women then began to pierce their nipples or use nipple caps to add decoration to their chest, sometimes fragile chains of gold, pearls, or diamonds would be linked between the piercings.These piercings were mainly worn among the upper classes of the 14th century. (http://www. painfulpleasures. com/piercing_history. htm) The Prince Albert is now as it once was, a popular male piercing, that not only enhances sexual stimulation but also allows the wearer to control where their penis lay inside the pants. â€Å"The Prince Albert piercing is named after Prince Albert who was the husband of Queen Victoria of England. He was reputed to have had this piercing done prior to his marriage to the queen around 1825, at that time Beau Brummel started the craze for ultra-tight men’s trousers.Because the pants were so tight, the penis needed to be held to one side or the other so as not to create an unsightly bulge. To accomplish this some men had their penis pierced to allow it to be held by a hook on the inside of the trousers, this piercing was called a â€Å"Dressing Ring† at the time because tailors would ask if a gentleman dressed to the left or the right and tailor the trousers accordingly, tailors to this day will ask if you dress to the left or right. † (http://www. ainfulpleasures. com/piercing_history. htm ) Body Modification Making the body thinner and more graceful is something many cultures do, long thin neck lines, curved shapely torso’s these are signs of beauty through the world. Throughout Europe and North America corsets have been a popular way to give a woman curves and emphasize or deemphasize parts of her body. On the Thai-Burmese border tribal women wear heavy brass neck rings to elongate their necks as a symbol of beauty.Women of the Karen tribe wear heavy brass neck rings that give the appearance of long necklines. This particular form of body modification has likely been a Kayan tradition for over a thousand years. The primary reasons for wearing them now are for beauty and to preserve their culture while they are in exile. These long necks are a symbol of beauty in the tribe. The interesting thing about these neck rings is that they do not actually stretch the neck; instead the rings ush down on the muscles around the collarbone giving the impression of a longer neck. Corsets were first popularized in the mid-16th century. At that time, the garment was used not to minimize the waist but to enhance the bust. The Victorian era brought many changes to corsets, which are still with us today. Modern corsets are shaped in the same way as the 1800s corset. Steel stays were introduced in this area, allowing corsets to reshape the body. Tight lacing was common, further reducing the waist and enhancing the bust and hips.Tight lacing is a way to wear the corset where over a period of months or years a woman can were the corset taking it off only at night to s leep and each day when it is put on again it is tightened a little more than the day before. This is done so that the body holds the shape given when the corset is taken off. Shapely hour glass figures are a seen as a mark of beauty. Throughout history people from all over the world have used various forms of body modification to tell people who they are. Tattoos, Lip plates, Piercings, Brass Neck rings, all say something about the person they are attached to.For centuries tribes have used tattoos to mark tribal leaders and spiritual leaders or to mark when a child has come into puberty and can be counted as an adult. Tribes in Africa use the body as a canvas and mark them with scar designs because a bare unmarked body is seen as an unused surface, while in other cultures an un-scarred unblemished body is seen as a thing of beauty. Brass neck rings are used to create beauty on women in tribes who find that the long, elegant design of a neck should be shown and accentuated.Piercings have always been used for a wide variety of reasons; to mark an age, to decorate a bare chest, or to help improve eyesight and ward off demons. The reasons behind body modification vary, from culture to culture and for each gender. â€Å"These permanent designs-sometimes plain, sometimes elaborate, always personal- have served as amulets, status symbols, declarations of love, signs of religious beliefs, adornments, and even forms of punishment. †(Cate Lineberry, Tattoos -The Ancient and Mysterious History, Para 1 line 3)

The Geography of the Cold War: What Was Containment? Essay

It was a glorious meeting. On April 25, 1945, at the Elbe River in Germany, two powerful armies met. Coming from opposite ends of Europe, the Americans and Russians had cut Hitler’s Germany in two. Now at the Elbe, soldiers from the Red Army of the Soviet Union reached out their hands to their American counterparts. It was a time for great happiness. World War II, the deadliest war in all of human history, was nearly over. Unfortunately, the warmth of the handshakes did not last. The Soviet Union and the United States had serious differences. Their greatest difference was over a political and economic system called communism. In its pure form, communism is a belief that private property should be replaced by community ownership. In the Soviet Union this idea was not easily accepted by the people. Russian leaders Vladmir Lenin and Joseph Stalin were ruthless in their elimination of those who had different ideas about Russia’s future. It is estimated that in the 1930s, Stalin was responsible for killing more than 10,000,000 Soviet people who he believe were in his way. Soviet communists did not like capitalism. They opposed private ownership economies of the United States and its allies. Russian leaders believed that capitalism was doomed and that communism would spread throughout the world. This caused great tension and the emergence of a new kind of war, a Cold War. Mistrust ran deep. In the words of Winston Churchill, it was as if an â€Å"iron curtain† had been drawn between the Soviet-controlled countries in Eastern Europe and the Western democracies. The Soviets had suffered terribly in World War II, losing more than 27,000,000 soldiers and civilians. Stalin was determined that Germany would never be able to strike Russia again. To protect Russia, Stalin wanted a buffer zone in Eastern Europe. It was no secret that Stalin and his successors wanted to expand the Soviet Empire.

Carnival Major Aspect Of Trinidadian Culture Social Policy Essay

Carnival Major Aspect Of Trinidadian Culture Social Policy Essay What is culture? According to La Belle and Ward (1996), a current definition of culture encompasses the shared attributes which delineate one group as separate from another ( p. 28). A slightly more specific definition for this very broad term comes from Frantz Fanon who says that a â€Å"culture is first and foremost the expression of a nation, its preferences, its taboos, and its models† (2004, p.177). From this standpoint we will examine Trinidadian culture or more specifically the significance of Carnival, an integral part of Trinidadian culture, as an outpouring of expression which originated with the French Roman Catholic aristocracy and later was influenced by slaves and former slaves. We will also examine the role it plays in inspiring national pride and uniting the Trinidadian diaspora. According to Mr. Walcott we have lost much of our historical legacy and it is from this loss and the consequent necessity for something to fill that void that the innovation of our cu lture (i.e. Caribbean culture) materialized (Walcott, 1974, p. 6). I disagree with Mr. Walcott on this point. I believe that a great deal of history was lost yes, whether it is because it was irrelevant as he says or not is in itself immaterial for the purpose of this discussion. It is my opinion that culture was not simply an upwelling of inventiveness due to large gaps in historical memory, but also an amalgamation of what historical heritage was left behind regardless of the fact that it was in tatters. If we take Carnival as an isolated part of culture, this point can be proven as we examine the origins of Carnival and see for ourselves that it began in Trinidad with a French Roman Catholic tradition of the aristocracy (Zavitz & Allahar, 2002) in the pre-emancipation era as a last prelenten celebration, which symbolized the abandonment of propriety. It was transformed with the advent of emancipation from a celebration in the form of masked balls, song, drama and dance which indi rectly, covertly and subversively confronted issues of social restrictions of class and race, since most wore masks, into a fusion in the post-emancipation period of West African religious practices and beliefs and the pre-existing French celebration (Nurse, 1999). The initial celebration of Carnival by the recently freed slaves was in the form of re-enacting a scene that they had become all too familiar with and which they had named ‘Cannes Brulà ©es’ or burning cane (Carnival). This is one instance of creation such as that which Mr. Walcott speaks of, however we can clearly see that the entirety of the Carnival practice, once taken as a whole, contains old and new elements, old from both French and African historical celebrations separately and new from the synthesis of new ideas based on experiences and the mixing of two cultures together, one forcibly oppressed for many years, and the other, living in extravagance comparatively. Let us now take a look at what Carni val is, what it symbolizes presently for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival as seen by the spectator and masquerader alike is not viewed as anything static. â€Å"It is a dynamic and fluid process† (Green, 2007, p. 206). It is a vibrant, exuberant, triumphant, colourful display on the one hand of freedom from one’s inhibitions as passed down from the originators of this festival, in which fast-paced, up-tempo music urges revelers to jump and gyrate in time with the syncopations of the melodic ‘soca’ music (Green, 2007, pp. 207-208). Feathers, beads, staffs, headbands, bright dramatic make-up, sequins, beads and all manner of shiny things bob and weave with the rhythm of the uninhibited who proudly bare their costumes and newly fit bodies for cameras and tourists alike. Big music trucks patrol the streets with thousands cavorting to the tune reverberating from the massive speakers that take up the entire truck-cab and face in all directions. This maddeningly spectacular display of peacock-like feathers, glitter and lithe bodies strutting to the beat, begins on Carnival Monday morning with ‘J’Ouvert’ which means opening of the day and continues right through into ‘Las’Lap’ on Tuesday night until the stroke of midnight (Scher, 2002, p. 461). This is the part of Carnival that is marketed, packaged and sold to the masses every year. The package includes the enticement of watching steel-bands vie for the title of champion in the Queen’s Park Savannah, during Panorama, the most renowned steelpan competition during the Carnival season. It is not to say that this is all that Carnival consists of, however when considering the diasporic culture of expatriate Trinis, as they are called, and their descendants, these are the images that bring to life that longing for the homeland and have inspired stirrings in the soul to return to Trinidad, just to participate in this festival of colour an d unadulterated elation. The term diasporic mentioned refers to the dispersion of a community away from its homeland to more than one peripheral region, which remembers or has some cultural connection to the homeland and is not fully acknowledged as a member of the current country (Clifford, 1994, p. 304).

Propaganda and British Cinema Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Propaganda and British Cinema - Essay Example It mostly applies to the human sense of sight. British film descended from French Lumiere brothers in 1892 and their first show was in 1896.The first moving picture was in 1889.The founder and the leader of documentary movement was John Grierson.He had the believe that film and documentary film could make a significant impact in the society by providing an effective medium between the state and the public. The government used the authors and actors of films to execute its propaganda agenda. J and Church -Gibson (1995) During Second World War, Movies were mainly used to promote the popular image of the nation and emphasize on patriotism. These films were about people affected by the war and the effect of war in the society. The Second World War pushed the issue related with censorship to the periphery and this led to direct intervention of the government. The movies at this period combined propaganda on behalf of war effort with dramatic action, romance and other features of entertainment movies. Adler, A. Jay (2004) In the mid nineteen hundred and twenties British cinema was loosing to the Hollywood. There was also war propaganda which was depicted by these movies. Propaganda is highly practical since it is both hidden and clear. Propaganda can be good or can be bad, democratic or totalitarian. Aldgate Anthony (1994) The cinema emerged as one of mass entertainment which had great acceptance among the population. Movies developed from a less developed entity to an important mean of communication, entertainment and mass production. Motion pictures films have significantly contributed in art, politics and technology in twentieth century. J and Church Gibson (1995) The production of the cinema was cheap and quick and the aim was to achieve the quota of twenty percent of screen space in Britain to be reserved to English film production. The first English sound tape was produced in 1929 by Hitchcock .Hitchcock was an artist who has experienced great Germany expressionism. He designed each stage including the minute detail which enhanced forcing of the intensity on the screen. The details included the scenery, music, soundtrack, actors and other obligatory. It so gracefully united horrifying, absurd and the idealistic features in such pictures. In 1940 he was awarded an Oscar award as the best picture of the year in the movie "Rebecca." Aldgate Anthony (1994) The cinema has socially and sensitively reflected many major events which are global historical changes that occurred in the 20th century. These changes include noteworthy events that included fall of empires which led to change in direction of historical and cultural development at the end of 19th century. This proves that the development of a society in connection with art rises develops and falls. J and Church -Gibson (1995) The histories of the twentieth century led to the change in attitude of the people and nations which led to the development of the influential art of cinema. Cinema was the most dynamical art since it embodied the development of Grand National awareness in the state. There is a connection of a propaganda literature of the Great Britain and its reflection in the cinema. Adler, A. Jay (2004) The imperialism theme researches of English cinema starts during the fall of the empires and beginning of the struggling of the public of developing countries. It is in 1960s that a margin of great importance is formed in

Building Surveyor Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Building Surveyor - Essay Example If we want to know the about the importance of the Building Surveying then first we will have to know about the Building Surveying. Building Surveying is the geometric measurement of the building in plan, section and elevation. Cutting edge equipments are used to perform a wide variety of measurement surveys. Robotic laser instruments are used to electronically observation and digitally recording of the surveys. Distances are electronically measured with light beams. Position is fixed with the help of a technology known as satellite positioning technology (GPS). Construction machines can be automatically guided by satellites and laser beams. We use Laser scanners for obtaining 'clouds' of points to create digital 3-D models of our environment for planning and development purposes. Use of the Computer-aided tacheometry and photogrammetry increases day by day for surveying building geometry. Manual methods such as tape, measuring-stick or laser-distance meter are also used for buildings.

Peer reviewed journal related to the key foods Article

Peer reviewed journal related to the key foods - Article Example Alternatively the starch and stew combination are redred and Tubman or moimoi mainly based on vegetable protein. Cassava is classified as a perennial plant that grows well under tropical climate, moist fertile and well-drained soils. A complete mature full grown plant reaches a height of about 2-4 meters. Under the cultivation fields, cut stem sections are planted like sugar canes each tube weighs one to several pounds depending upon the cultural type. A cassava is a gray-brown, rough woody textured skin, with a white color starch rich sweet-flavored meat that should be eaten only after cooking. Cassava is used to prepare different king of dishes which include Akple which is fermented cassava and corn dough, fufu which is a pounded cassava and Konkonte which is primarily dried peeled cassava powder. Cassava is the world third source of carbohydrates but a poor source of protein. Additionally, it has a nearly twice the calories than potatoes, in a 100g root it provides 160 calories, which comes from sucrose forming the bulk of the sugars in tubers. Cassava has very low fats and protein content than in cereals and pulses (Wagner, 2010) Young tender cassava leaves are a rich source of dietary, copper, magnesium and vitamin K which is vital in bone construction promoting Osteotrophic activity in the bones. It has medicinal value of treating Alzheimer’s disease patients by limiting neuronal damages in the brain. Fufu is prepared by boiling the peeled cassava and pounding into a dough-like consistency and later served with a soup. Cassava is a rich source of carbohydrates which acts as fuel for energy; bodies require energy for their functionality and day to day activity. Cassava being a fiber food, it reduces the risk of heart diseases and cancer also helps in diabetic and constipation reduction. In conduction, since it is a source of saponins, it helps reduce cholesterol levels and reduce acidic levels in the body