Descriptive Statistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Descriptive Statistics - Essay Example In simple words, the results are not accurate because the last patient’s survival of 45 weeks is an exceptional entry that has alone a considerable impact on measures of central tendency in this study. Recall that the standard deviation defines an area below and above the mean about which it is expected that a majority of the scores will fall. The researchers; therefore, would be required to submit another set of results on 12 new entries to estimate the mean and central tendency measures. Additional money to researchers will then be granted if they come up with satisfactory results. Research Hypothesis Null Hypothesis: H0 - ? = 9.6 Alternative Hypothesis: Ha = ? > 10 The original claim is that the mean number of weeks that a prostate cancer patient lives after receiving a confirmed diagnosis of being in stage 4 is 9.6. Whereas, the new case study considers that it is above 9.6; therefore, there is need to conduct a statistical test of single average. Test Statistic Variables The independent variables include the age of cancer patients, financial situation of participants etc. The dependent variables may include medical checkups and patients’ personal care. Selection, Problems and Ethical Issues The cancer patients in stage 4 will be selected randomly without identifying their forecasted survival life in weeks by doctors and medical representatives. Indeed, this is an attempt to avert any possibility of biases in the study.

Side Effects of Nanoparticles on Health

Side Effects of Nanoparticles on Health Prakriti Gurung      Abstract What are the side effects of using Nanotechnology on healthcare?       Nanotechnology has revolutionised medicine with its innovative applications yet much is yet to be researched on its adverse effects. While nanoparticles are used for drug delivery and medical equipment, they pose health risks as they are shown to be toxic, causing haemolysis, inflammation as well as cancer[DS1]. This is due to properties specific to nanoparticles such as high surface area to mass ratio and its shape. The high surface area makes nanoparticles very reactive and could trigger unwanted reactions inside the body if they react with biomolecules while the shape determines how the nanoparticles interact with its surroundings. Solubility is another key factor which could potentiate harm as nanoparticles low solubility can form lumps inside the body as they accumilate in one specific region and damage vital organs. Therefore, Nanotechnology should be equally revered and feared for it uses in medicine. Introduction Nanotechnology is a branch of technology which involves manipulating structures and properties at the nanoscale range, from 1 to 100 nanometres. A particle which is 1 nanometre in size is 1 ÃÆ'- 10-9 metres small a billionth of a metre. With the concept introduced initially in 1959 by physicist Richard P Feynman during his Theres Plenty of Room at the Bottom talk where he expressed the ability to control and manipulate individual atoms and molecules, the study has today developed exponentially to revolutionise perspectives in cosmetics industry, agriculture and most recently, medicine. Medicine has thrived through the incorporation of nanotechnology in its discipline as the efficacy of drugs improved significantly due to its implementation in drug delivery, isolation of cancer cells in the body and reparations in clogged arteries. However, use of nanotechnology can be risky as particles behave differently at a nanoscale level. This unpredictability can pose hazards to human health if it is unable to be controlled in its application in medicine: Substances such as engineered fibrous nano-materials can cause inflammation on lungs while the small size of individual particles allows them to enter cells and form clumps. This report will explore the risks and hazards nanotechnology carries in its application in medicine on human health. Toxicity One of the major characteristics of nanoparticles is its toxicity and so far most of the research done around this area comes from inhaled nanoparticles in the air. What makes the nanoparticles toxic in particular is its individual chemical properties with Carbon Black nanoparticles causing more severe health effects compared to its other counterparts. However it is subjective to contamination caused by human activity such as pollution as well as to consider that nanoparticles in the ambient air have complex composition with organic and metal components such as metallic iron interacting which may cause the adverse health effects. Metallic iron was shown to potentiate the effect of Carbon Black nanoparticles through increased reactivity   (Wilson et al 2002). The toxicity of the nanoparticles are also dependent on its size as particles so small at the nanoscale level leads to an increase in surface area to mass ratio. This means more chemical molecules are present on the surface of the nanoparticles which enhances toxicity. During the study of low toxicity particles, TiO2 particles with higher surface area was shown to induce more severe lung inflammation and particle lymph node burden compared to BaSO4 particles with lower surface area (Tran et al 2000). Furthermore, their large surface area makes them highly reactive, which could lead to activate unknown chemical reactions or to bond with toxins, allowing for nanoparticles to enter cells other than the ones targeted. Shapes also play a key role in the characteristics such as the respirability and inflammatory potential of individual nanoparticles. A prime example of these are nanotubes. In addition to being carcinogenic, single wall carbon nanotubes where shown to induce Lung Granulomas, a type of inflammation, and thus demonstrated to be very toxic. However this could also be due to the high mass dose. To add, studies using human keratinocyte cell line also showed that carbon nanotube exposure resulted in cell toxicity and accelerated oxidative stress (Shvedova et al 2003) , which is an imbalance between the free radical production in the human body and the ability to neutralise its harmful effects. Solubility Different types of nanoparticles have varying solubility, and it is those nanoparticles with low solubility that could pose the most health risks. The risks are greater if the nanoparticles comprise of inorganic metal oxides and metal as they could react with bio-molecular structures within the body. Another factor to consider is if it is able to be broken down and be degraded: It would lead to the nanoparticles to accumulate within the body and damage organs. Furthermore due to its high reactivity and electrical charge, nanoparticles create conditions within the body where they come together to form larger particles, described as particle aggregation. This could potentiate the risks even further as this alters their physiochemical properties leading to unknown reactions inside cells. Nanofibres Nanofibres are fibers that have diameters of less than 1000 nm, and its medical applications range from wound dressings to artificial organ transplants.   nanofibres are created by an electrospinning process that ranges from 10nm to several hundred nanometres. The unique process through which it is made gives the nanofibres special properties due to its high surface area to mass ratio such as low density, high pore volume, and tight pore size. Researchers have also demonstrated new ways to make nanofibres out of proteins naturally occurring in blood, which makes it ideal for use in bandages as they eventually dissolve in the body (Hegde, Dahiya, and Kamath, 2005). This also makes it possible to add antibacterial material and drugs to the nanofibre structure, minimising infection rate, blood loss and more effective as it is absorbed by the body. Another field within medicine where nanofibres are used is tissue engineering, making them possible substrates for growing cells. Nano fibre substrates effectively support cell multiplication and enable tissue replacement prepared from a patients cells. The material it is made from also makes it is possible to incorporate different bioactive materials and drugs. Barrier textiles, when containing hydrophobic nanofibre layers work as effective barriers for microorganism penetration such as viruses and bacteria (Nanofiber applications, 2004). However, nanofibres can also pose significant health risks to humans. When silver nanofibres of different lengths were injected into lungs of mice, those larger than 5000 nm in size became lodged in lungs and caused inflammation while the smaller ones cleared away (BBC, 2012). Although it is questionable whether the same results are applicable on humans as the test was done on mice. Ken Donaldson, professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of Edinburgh, said: Concern has been expressed that new kinds of nanofibres being made by nanotechnology industries might pose a ri sk because they have a similar shape to asbestos. Asbestos fibres were shown to cause mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer. Drug Delivery Nanofibre membranes from bipolymers are used as drug carriers or bioactive compounds. The benefit of this is that the membranes are engineered to specifically target diseased cells, therefore reducing the damage done to healthy cells. The benefits of using nanoparticles in drug delivery is that it is possible to attach ethylene glycol molecules which enables the nanoparticles to circulate in the blood stream. This is due to the   ethylene glycol molecules which stops the white blood cells from attacking the nanoparticles. While the benefits of nanoparticles in drug delivery are immense, there are serious adverse effects which need to be researched further: Cationic nanoparticles, which are ligand coated nanoparticles used as agents for drug delivery, such as gold and polystyrene have been shown to cause haemolysis (rupture of red blood cells) and blood clotting (De Jong and Borm, 2008). Positive correlation is also observed between nanoparticle exposure and the amount of cardi ovascular diseases however there is no definitive explanation. Toxicological studies have demonstrated that certain nanoparticles can gain access to the blood following inhalation and can enhance experimental thrombosis (blood clotting in circulatory system) but it is not clear whether this was an effect of pulmonary inflammation or particles translocated to the blood. Another type of nanoparticle, DEP (Diesel exhaust particulate), were shown to cause altered heart rate in hypertensive rats whereas high concentrations of anionic nanoparticles and cationic nanoparticles were toxic for the BBB (blood and brain barrier) (De Jong and Borm, 2008). Conclusion[DS2] Nanoparticles hold great significance in the field of medicine due to its frequent emergence: they are everywhere from wound dressings to drug delivery. However much of the disadvantages in its application is yet to be researched as whatever little information is available only comes from inhaled nanoparticles. If not researched thoroughly, the risk of nanoparticles could increase significantly, as it has already been demonstrated in lab rats which resulted in lung inflammation and blood clotting. Furthermore, the high surface area of nanopartcles makes them particularly sensitive when it comes to reactivity, which inside the human body could trigger unwanted reactions in turn causing damage to cells and organs. Therefore the subject of nanoparticles should be treated with caution, especially when it comes to application on humans in order to allow for safer usage in medicine.   Ã‚   Bibliography[DS3] BBC (2012) Nanofibres may pose health risk. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19355196 (Accessed: 30 August 2016) Catherine Paddock PhD. 2012. Nanotechnology In Medicine: Huge Potential, But What Are The Risks?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/244972.php. [Accessed 27 August 2016]. De Jong, W.H. and Borm, P.J. (2008) Drug delivery and nanoparticles: Applications and hazards,Drug delivery and nanoparticles: Applications and hazards, 3(2) (Accessed: 4 September 2016). Hegde, R.R., Dahiya, A. and Kamath, M.G. (2005) NANOFIBERS. Available at: http://www.engr.utk.edu/mse/Textiles/Nanofiber%20Nonwovens.htm (Accessed: 30 August 2016). Nanofiber applications (2004) Available at: http://www.elmarco.com/application-areas/medicine/ (Accessed: 30 August 2016) Shvedova, A., Castranova, V., Kisin, E., Schwegler-Berry, D., Murray, A., Gandelsman, V., Maynard, A. and Baron, P., 2003. Exposure to carbon nanotube material: assessment of nanotube cytotoxicity using human keratinocyte cells. Journal of toxicology and environmental health Part A,66(20), pp.1909-1926. Tran, C.L., Buchanan, D., Cullen, R.T., Searl, A., Jones, A.D. and Donaldson, K., 2000. Inhalation of poorly soluble particles. II. Influence of particle surface area on inflammation and clearance. Inhalation toxicology,12(12), pp.1113-1126. Wilson, M.R., Lightbody, J.H., Donaldson, K., Sales, J. and Stone, V., 2002. Interactions between ultrafine particles and transition metals in vivo and in vitro. Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 184(3), pp.172-179. [DS1]Good point, but should be supported by a reference. [DS2]Good [DS3]Very good.

Investigating the Effect ofTeeth Cleaning Agents on the Growth of Bacte

Investigating the Effect of Different Teeth Cleaning Agents on the Growth of Bacteria On account of the price and variety of tooth cleaning agents available on the market, an investigation was conducted into the effect of different tooth cleaning agents containing different ingredients on the growth of teeth bacteria. The tooth cleaning agents tested were Colgate total antibacterial toothpaste with Triclosan (3 pence/ml), Boots non fluoride toothpaste (less than a penny/ml), Dental care baking soda toothpaste (2 pence/ml) and a twig from a natural toothbrush tree Salvadora persica commonly known as ‘Muswak’ (30 pence for two weeks supply, toothbrush not required as twig carries out the function of a toothbrush). Gingivitis (inflammation to gingival tissue in the mouth) caused by excessive formation of plaque is not just a problem for children, it continues throughout life as long as natural teeth are in the mouth. The three most common bacteria that cause dental disease are Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus species, and Actinomyces species. According to an article titled ‘super toothpaste’ by W. F Lee (Prevention magazine, Dec 97, p67) it is said, ‘Make room fluoride. A new toothpaste is coming and it promises to strike the kind of blow to gingivitis that made fluoride famous for fighting cavities. The key ingredient Triclosan is a common antimicrobial agent already in wide use in products such as antibacterial soap. Scientists think Triclosan may reduce gingivitis by inhibiting the growth of plaque causing bacteria. In a major study submitted to the FDA, the new Triclosan-fluoride paste (sold as Colgate total) performed significantly better than standard fluoride only toothpaste in helping to prevent plaque, tartar and gingivitis. This combination of Triclosan and fluoride is the first toothpaste to earn the British Dental Association seal of acceptance for fighting four dental problems at once- gingivitis, plaque, tooth decay and tartar.1c Non fluoride toothpastes are suitable for individuals who require a controlled level of fluoride. This would be especially relevant in cases whereby the tap water is heavily fluoridated or the individual is taking fluoride supplements. Baking soda toothpaste, also known as sodium bicarbonate paste kills bacteria that cause plaque and bad breath and acts as a mild abrasive. According to the Journal of Clinical Denti... ...o: 67 2c Kelly J (1997) "Brush up your act" Grocer Oct 4 1997 volume 220 Page no: 41 3c Meskin L.H (1997) " Much ado about nothing" Journal of the American dental association Oct 1997 volume 128 Page no: 1347 4c Blinkhorn A (1997) " Keeping faith in fluoride" Chemist and druggist May 24 1997, Volume 247, Page no: 24 5c Author unknown (1997) "Getting the most of your medical dollar" Money matters August 1997 Volume 6, Issue 3 Page no: 3 6c Hattab F.N (1997) "Muswak: the natural toothbrush" Journal of Clinical Dentistry Volume 8, NO 5 Page no: 125-129 Information from multimedia 1d Encarta encyclopaedia, 1995 Version Acknowledgements * Ms. E Haynes for provision of sterilised apparatus and teaching of microbiology module. * The British Dental Association for provision of statistical details of consumer sales. * Colgate Palmolive UK for details on Colgate total toothpaste. * Science line for general information on types of toothpastes. * Mr. Kayum, Sub Rung Centre, 131 Green Street (Forest gate), London E7 8JF for information on Salvadora Persica ‘Muswak’ * Wellcome Science Museum, Euston Road, London for use of their library facilities.

Lord of the Flies vs. the Destructors Essay

Fiction looks at all ranges of topics through the eyes of so many diverse characters. Lord of the Flies and The Destructors is no different in the sense you see two extremely striking situations through the eyes of surprising characters. These stories both take a look at society and the primitive aspects it can have. The main characters in the story are both children of young ages exhibiting surprising and sometimes extremely shocking behavior displaying a loss of innocence. They differ in the sense that Lord of Flies looks at how savage a human can get in desperate situations while the other is how savage a person can get against a society that feel victimized against. These two novels have similarities that can be easily identified. They both display groups of adolescents that are interacting with extreme situations. Lord of Flies depicts children stranded on an island and they must come together in order to find these solutions. Desperation sets in which motivates them to start acting more and more savage as time goes on. This is similar to The Destructors because the short story displays a similar group of young children who display savage behavior to a community. While one is a residential community and another is an island, the island represents a community for these boys for the time of the story because they are stranded upon it. Both stories display a power struggle through two characters in them. Lord of The Flies shows this through Jack and Ralph and In the Destructors this is seen through Trevor and Blackie. Jack and Ralph both attempted to become chief of the new tribe, Ralph winning by a few votes. However, as time goes on their primitive behaviors shine through creating a divide between the children and Jack develops his own tribe. Jack’s influence motivates the children to become violent and savage toward Ralph and his group, resulting in killing one of Ralph’s friend, Piggy. All of the teamwork and civil behavior that Ralph represents is slowly gone until the children all turn into monsters, which Jack represents. Ralph was about structure and finding a rescue, which is evident in his design of two groups, one for food and one for a fire signal while jack was all about savage behavior and power over the other children. In the Destructors, Blackie and Trevor both have potential to be the leader of the Wormsley Common Gang and it can be seen through their dialogue that they are both aware that they want it. Blackie tries to display this by attempting to prevent Trevor from voting on what kind of trouble they get into when he late to their meeting but Trevor does not allow him. The peak of this struggle is when are discussing ideas and Trevor tells them about destroying Old Misery’s house from the inside. Blackie attempts his best to discourage with the potential of police and the inability to accomplish this but Trevor continue to push the idea until it is voted for and chosen. This symbolized the end of Blackie’s reign of the group and when one member asks â€Å"How do we start?† Blackie simply walks away saying, â€Å" He’ll tell you.† Implying that he knows what has occurred and realizing his role of leadership is taken over. Both groups in each story displayed how easily a dynamic can change through Power. When you look at the stories from another angle, you can see that the messages they have differ extremely. Lord of the Flies was all about human nature and the ends it can go. This novel is a timeless one because of the message it sends through the least likely characters, young boys. The Destructors is a more believable story because the type of violence that is seen in the story. While damage to someone’s home is awful and the manner in which they did it was extremely special, Lord of The Flies uses violence against one another and results in psychotic breaks and children losing their lives at the hands of others. The longer these children are with one another, they start to lose more of their humanity and gain more primal instincts in ways of acting. Jack is the best candidate to display this because of how he grows more and more corrupt. After starting his own tribe, he has enabled himself to dictate what he feels his followers should do. He allowed them to become savage as well. If he felt that other children needed to be punished, he felt not hesitation and even was to the point of murdering another child. He started wearing clay masks, which represents the symbolism of having a new more primal faà §ade. The novel wraps up with Ralph being rescued but crying because he reflects on everything that has happened and how far these young children have fallen and to what points they all reached. The Destructors really depicts a group of children who aim to destroy a neighborhood leaving an old man’s house for last. These children differ from the ones in Lord of The Flies because though they do some pretty questionable acts, it is more delinquency rather than primal acts. These boys are doing violent actions because of the violence through the war they witness around them. With World War II going on, these children are witness to bombings often leaving them feeling with the need to do something. They decide to become a gang that will make their mark around London, causing crime one more extreme than the next. Trevor motivates these boys to destroy an old man’s house but instead of normally destroying it while he is away, they decide to wreck it from the inside out. Trevor says, â€Å"We’d be like worms, don’t you see, in an apple.† (pg. 12) However, mid construction the old man, Old Misery, comes home unexpected and is locked away until the job is finished. The ending displays Old Misery sobbing as his house is destroyed and the lorry that was around ended the story by laughing saying â€Å"There’s nothing personal but you got to admit it’s funny.† (pg. 22) This is actually the exact opposite reaction of what Lord of The Flies displayed because even though Mr. Thomas was sobbing at his loss similar to Ralph’s reaction, the Lorry laughed at the comedy of the situation. These stories all depict children doing things that typically we would not expect to see in society. However, the lack of a society in both novels has allowed behavior of this magnitude to occur. These stories show us that though they are different kinds of crimes and in different context, society is what can be considered the common thread through both stories. Society and it’s influence can really effect the people that are in it and if you are in a society that doesn’t provide a positive structure, you could display the actions seen in Lord of The Flies or The Destructors.

Pros and Cons of Social Studies Teaching

Characteristics of Short Stories [pic][pic] References Alphonse, M. , (2011). Naturalism in Literature. Retrieved November 20, 2012 from http://www. buzzle. com/articles/naturalism-in-literature. htmlom. Vaux, R. (2012). What Are the Basic Characteristics of Realism. Retrieved November 20, 2012 from http://www. ehow. com/facts_5714410_basic-characteristics-realism_. html. [pic] ———————– Dramatic Structure Exposition: Introduction to setting, situation, and main characters. Complication An event that introduces the conflict.Rising Action Crisis: Crucial moment for the protagonist to commit to a course of action. Climax The highest interest of conflict, the most action. Resolution The point when the conflict is resolved. Naturalism Realism Pessimism: When a character tends to repeat a phrase by having a pessimistic outlook, this sometimes emphasizes the inevitability or quality of death, or the end (Alphonse, 2011). Detachment: Th e author tries to maintain an objective tone by achieving a detachment or change through nameless characters.This focuses mainly on the plot and character rather than focusing on the character only (Alphonse, 2011). Determinism: The notion that individual characters have a direct choice on their lives is replaced by a focus on fate or nature; this is the opposite of the belief of free will. The author makes the reader believe that the fate of the character has already been predetermined by certain factors, especially environmental factors and he can do nothing to change it (Alphonse, 2011).Twist at the end: There is an overwhelming sense in the naturalist stories and novels that nature is not affected by human struggle. The key themes, survival, determinism, violence, and taboo, have been ideally portrayed in all the works of this literature genre (Alphonse, 2011). Accuracy: Realism strives for total accuracy in the depiction of its subjects. Devoid of any unnecessary dramatics or a rtistic affectation. Realistic works refrain from undue embellishment, and strive for a natural tone (Vaux, 2012). Read more: What Are the Basic Characteristics of Realism? eHow. com http://www. ehow. com/facts_5714410_basic-characteristics-realism_. html#ixzz2CmwKmoVv Honesty: Realism seeks the depiction of honesty. Avoid hiding things behind distortions or opinions. Unpleasant facts or images are presented as they are, as are plain or unassuming details about the content (Vaux, 2012). Independence: Philosophical realism stresses the independence of objects from the reader. The author gives a life and an existence separate from anything else, which will continue regardless of anyone's opinions the matter (Vaux, 2012).Ordinariness: The subjects of realistic works are defined not by their exceptional nature, but by how ordinary they seem. This allows ordinary to have a voice (Vaux, 2012). Difficulties: Realistic protagonists are often beset by great forces beyond their control or the natural world. Through indifference of a larger society, and in many cases they do not find triumph in their struggle. Unhappy endings are not always the norm in realistic stories, but they are fairly common. Happy endings often involve compromise and larger than life victories (Vaux, 2012).

P-39 Airacobra - Bell Aircraft - World War II

P-39 Airacobra - Bell Aircraft - World War II P-39Q Airacobra - Specifications General Length: 30 ft. 2 in.Wingspan: 34 ft.Height: 12 ft. 5 in.Wing Area: 213 sq. ft.Empty Weight: 5,347 lbs.Loaded Weight: 7,379 lbs.Maximum Takeoff Weight: 8,400 lbs.Crew: 1 Performance Maximum Speed: 376 mphCombat Radius: 525 milesRate of Climb: 3,750 ft./min.Service Ceiling: 35,000 ft.Power Plant: 1 Ãâ€" Allison V-1710-85 liquid-cooled V-12, 1,200 hp Armament 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon2 x .50 cal. machine guns4 x .30 cal machine gunsup to 500 lbs. of bombs Design Development In early 1937, Lieutenant Benjamin S. Kelsey, the US Army Air Corps Project Officer for Fighters, began to express his frustration over the services armament limitations for pursuit aircraft. Joining with Captain Gordon Saville, a fighter tactics instructor at the Air Corps Tactical School, the two men wrote two circular proposals for a pair of new interceptors which would possess a heavier armament that would allow American aircraft to dominate aerial battles. The first, X-608, called for a twin-engine fighter and would ultimately lead to the development of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The second, X-609, requested designs for a single-engine fighter capable of dealing with enemy aircraft at high altitude. Also included in X-609 was a requirement for a turbo-supercharged, liquid-cooled Allison engine as well as a level speed of 360 mph and an ability to reach 20,000 feet within six minutes. Responding to X-609, Bell Aircraft began work on a new fighter that was designed around the Oldsmobile T9 37mm cannon. To accommodate this weapon system, which was intended to fire through the propeller hub, Bell employed the unorthodox approach of mounting the aircrafts engine in the fuselage behind the pilot. This turned a shaft beneath the pilots feet which in turn powered the propeller. Due to this arrangement, the cockpit sat higher which gave the pilot an excellent field of view. It also allowed for a more streamlined design which Bell hoped would aid in achieving the required speed. In another difference from its contemporaries, pilots entered the new aircraft through side doors that were similar to those employed on automobiles rather than sliding canopy. To supplement the T9 cannon, Bell mounted twin .50 cal. machine guns in the aircrafts nose. Later models would also incorporate two to four .30 cal. machine guns mounted in the wings. A Fateful Choice First flying on April 6, 1939, with test pilot James Taylor at the controls, the XP-39 proved disappointing as its performance at altitude failed to meet the specifications set forth in Bells proposal. Attached to the design, Kelsey had hoped to guide the XP-39 through the development process but was thwarted when he received orders that sent him abroad. In June, Major General Henry Hap Arnold directed that the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics conduct wind tunnel tests on the design in an effort to improve performance. Following this testing, NACA recommended that the turbo-supercharger, which was cooled with scoop on the left side of the fuselage, be enclosed within the aircraft. Such a change would improve the XP-39s speed by 16 percent. Examining the design, Bells team was unable to find space within the XP-39s small fuselage for the turbo-supercharger. In August 1939, Larry Bell met with the USAAC and NACA to discuss the issue. At the meeting, Bell argued in favor of eliminating the turbo-supercharger altogether. This approach, much to Kelseys later dismay, was adopted and subsequent prototypes of the aircraft moved forward utilizing only a single-stage, single-speed supercharger. While this alteration provided the desired performance improvements at low altitude, the elimination of the turbo effectively made the type useless as a front-line fighter at heights above 12,000 feet. Unfortunately, the drop-off in performance at medium and high altitude was not immediately noticed and the USAAC ordered 80 P-39s in August 1939. Early Problems Initially introduced as the P-45 Airacobra, the type was soon re-designated P-39C. The initial twenty aircraft were built without armor or self-sealing fuel tanks. As World War II had begun in Europe, the USAAC began to assess combat conditions and realized that these were needed to ensure survivability. As a result, the remaining 60 aircraft of the order, designated P-39D, were built with armor, self-sealing tanks, and an enhanced armament. This added weight further hampered the aircrafts performance. In September 1940, the British Direct Purchase Commission ordered 675 of the aircraft under the name Bell Model 14 Caribou. This order was placed based on the performance of the unarmored and unarmed XP-39 prototype. Receiving their first aircraft in September 1941, the Royal Air Force soon found the production P-39 to be inferior to variants of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. In the Pacific As a result, the P-39 flew one combat mission with the British before the RAF shipped 200 aircraft to the Soviet Union for use with the Red Air Force. With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the US Army Air Forces purchased 200 P-39s from the British order for use in the Pacific. First engaging Japanese in April 1942 over New Guinea, the P-39 saw extensive use throughout the Southwest Pacific and flew with American and Australian forces. The Airacobra also served in the Cactus Air Force which operated from Henderson Field during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Engaging at lower altitudes, the P-39, with its heavy armament, frequently proved a tough opponent for the famed Mitsubishi A6M Zero. Also used in the Aleutians, pilots found that the P-39 had a variety of handling problems including a tendency to enter a flat spin. This often was the result of the aircrafts center of gravity shifting as ammunition was expended. As distances in the Pacific war increased, the sh ort-range P-39 was withdrawn in favor of increasing numbers of P-38s. In the Pacific Though found unsuitable for use in Western Europe by the RAF, the P-39 saw service in North Africa and the Mediterranean with the USAAF in 1943 and early 1944. Among those to briefly fly the type was the famed 99th Fighter Squadron (Tuskegee Airmen) who had transitioned from the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. Flying in support of Allied forces during the Battle of Anzio and maritime patrols, P-39 units found the type to be particularly effective at strafing. By early 1944, most American units transitioned to the newer Republic P-47 Thunderbolt or North American P-51 Mustang. The P-39 was also employed with the Free French and Italian Co-Belligerent Air Forces. While the former was less than pleased with the type, the latter effectively employed the P-39 as a ground-attack aircraft in Albania. Soviet Union Exiled by the RAF and disliked by the USAAF, the P-39 found its home flying for the Soviet Union. Employed by that nations tactical air arm, the P-39 was able to play to its strengths as most of its combat occurred at lower altitudes. In that arena, it proved capable against German fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190. In addition, its heavy armament allowed it to make quick work of Junkers Ju 87 Stukas and other German bombers. A total of 4,719 P-39s were sent to the Soviet Union through the Lend-Lease Program. These were transported to the front via the Alaska-Siberia ferry route. During the course of the war, five of the top ten Soviet aces scored the majority of their kills in the P-39. Of those P-39s flown by the Soviets, 1,030 were lost in combat. The P-39 remained in use with the Soviets until 1949. Selected Sources Military Factory: P-39 AiracobraNational Museum of the US Air Force: P-39 AiracobraAce Pilots: P-39 Airacobra

lost innocence of a forgotten essays

lost innocence of a forgotten essays The Lost Innocence of a Forgotten War It is a cool autumn day; the trees are changing from their summer green to their vibrant orange, reds and yellows. Leaves scatter the wet grass as the family pets run back and forth, their tails wagging, breath floating in puffs of mist before being swept away by a clean crisp breeze. The purpose of the visit to my cabin in Moose Lake, Minnesota is to interview my neighbor Charles Nelson or Chuck for short, on how the Korean War affected him, and in essence, stole his innocence. This sixty-nine year old is built like a real man, skin tanned from many boating excursions, his hair white and grey from age and the many years in the sun. Best of all is his personality, young and spunky just like the day he turned seventeen, which is where the story starts. Fifty-two years ago Chuck was a carefree seventeen year old high-school senior, months away from graduation and living his life to the fullest. World War 2 was still in the minds of almost every American and the country was just entering what is now referred to as the baby-boomer era. The country was doing well financially and many were excited at what was to come. But in 1950 when the North Koreans were looking likely to invade South Korea five of Chucks good high-school friends who had already graduated signed up for the service. The country had seen the world torn apart by imperialist empires such as Germany and Japan jus several years prior Chuck recalled when asked the mindset of the country toward war. He continues, With that mindset, we had seen as a nation, he pauses the devastation [caused] by allowing dictatorships such as Germany and Japan to invade their neighbors. Consequently when North Korea invaded South Korea [we] had seen the damage once before, we had to act. Within two weeks, two of the five friends were dead. I was angry. He recalled When I heard they were ...

Descriptive Essay on Nature

Descriptive Essay on Nature Descriptive Essay on Nature Nature surrounds us wherever we are and go. Even in the concrete jungle of New York City a red flower, a green tree will break the harshness of dirty grey concrete, glass and neon. In the sunset in Miami, nature gives a breathtaking display of beauty every evening painting the sky with glorious colors. Standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon on sees a breathtaking view of natures handicraft as it gouges out a canyon so big it is breathtaking. Each scenario is completely different yet each has its own splendor, no matter if it is a sunset, a desert, mountain, prairie, lake or ocean. Man has appreciated nature and still does. He is both challenged and pacified by it. Not only is nature beautiful, it is every changing through different seasons, or timelessly unchanged in it fixed elements such as its great mountain ranges. It has a wild beauty to it. There is a valley in central Africa that when you are there it seems as if you went back in time. This is the Zambezi river valley that starts in the wetlands of the Okavango swamps. The valley is 1500 miles of wilderness, totally unspoiled by mans encroachment. You see only the wildness of nature. The river flows proudly through the valley. It is a surging force as it goes thru rocky rapids, or wide and tranquil where it finds space. On its banks are mud flats and reeds, where crocodiles lie in the sun, and further away dense trees and forests of Mopani trees, interspersed with huge grey prehistoric baobab trees with branches that look like roots. In the day, the sun is a burning yellow fire, and everything wilts und er it. Even the wild life finds shade and lies down. As the evening comes the setting sun paints the sky with streaks of pink and orange, and the animals emerge. They come individually or in groups. In the water large hippopotamus frolic, not intimidated by the presence of crocodiles. Nervous buck come dancing to the river. Large tan colored kudu, as tall as a horse, with their white flashes and meter long spiral horns, smaller dark brown impala with short spiked horns, tiny brown duiker. They carefully approach; stopping to be sure, no predators are near. They dip their heads gracefully to drink. Some suddenly will jump and struggle as a crocodile grabs it and drags it under the water. Elephants come and splash around squirting water over themselves with their long trunks, or rolling in the mud, which is to them a treat. Lions eventually arrive in a pride, causing the buck to move nervously away. The dusk gives way to the sudden blackness of the night sky studded with silver stars and a huge silver moon. Soon the animals were gone; the river flows on into the night. Not far away there was a noise like thunder that sounded constantly. In the early morning, flowing the river alive and sparkling in the sun, crocodiles basking in the warmth, animals drinking while it was still cool, the river broadened and flowed in channels around green islands. Then it fell down a 100-meter chasm as a magnificent waterfall, 1708 meters wide. As the river fell down the chasm the sound was as thunder, and water spray rose high in the sky, white like the smoke of a bush fire. The bush is like a tropical forest as the spray rains down on it continually, and it is untouched by man. From here, it flows into a great lake and thence to the Indian Ocean. It is a place, and a moment in time, where one feels time warped to the beginning of time, where everything is still as it always was. Tips on writing a good descriptive essay about nature: This essay form is personal. It describes your personal experience and view. The goal is to create a vivid picture in the reader’s imagination. Brainstorm by using your power of observation and make notes. Carefully choose descriptive words that bring out a vivid picture of what you describe. Ensure you apply all your senses. The reader must be brought into the picture in his imagination. If you use words such as hot, cold, warm, dark, light, sunshine, fragrant, and the like. Describe, where you can, your emotions and feelings. Most of the readers will identify and connect with emotion. Do not lose your focus and make sure you organize your paper correctly. At service you can get a quality custom descriptive essay from professional writers. All you need is to contact our website!

Why the European Union developed a range of equality policies and Essay

Why the European Union developed a range of equality policies and enacted some strong workplace equality legislation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that ever since 1957, when gender-based inequality was pledged to be abolished from workplaces in the European Union through the Treaty of Rome, Europeans have seen many changes occur in the field of workplace equality policies. Recently, the European Union again reemphasized upon this aspect of equality in the workplace and modified the workplace equality legislation to give everyone a fair chance in performing at their jobs while the reasons for this move is pretty obvious, exact tenets of the approach used by the European Union are hard to emulate in other countries due to the complexity of clauses presented in the legislation. In order to understand this, we must delve into the details of the changes brought in by the European Union recently. For a country to grow and experience financial and economic prosperity, it is very important that each and every individual in the community has a role to play in contributing towards the infrastru cture of the country. For this to happen, any individual located in any part if the European Union should ideally have all the chances to take up a job he desires and serve the country using his specific skillsets. It was this ideology that prompted the government to set up such legislation initially. In due course of time, several amendments came up to reduce gender bias and racist discriminations in the workplace. Amongst prominent incidents that led to the further upheaval of the policies in this legislation, we find the following to be of utmost importance and to have led to anti-discrimination laws to be more completely defined in recent times. Roma History: Surprisingly a lot of schools in different parts of the European Union had students of Romanian backgrounds, most of whom were victims of discrimination whether at school or in society. Children abused at workplaces were also found in these rehabilitation schools. This observation and the plight of descendants of Gypsies br ought out the need to abolish discrimination at elementary levels, by introducing laws that governed much more than just racial discrimination in the workplace.

Case study for Dye sol company (Australia) Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

For Dye sol company (Australia) - Case Study Example It is very necessary to deal with projects which have respect in performance criteria of dimensions which influence the strategic decisions of the business in the investment decisions. The group of professionals is concerned in decision making dealing with the development of the equipment for the use of research in and manufacturing of dye sol. The company supplies the equipment and materials together with the components for the dye sol technology research in most of institutions in Australia. Criteria flow and evaluation of the machines helps to produce dye sol and assist in the technology research in making the company large1. The challenge in this is the communication system in designing the changes which falls under the management team in the company. In evaluating the project research, it is very necessary to consider some of the targets like, objectives and outputs of the project according to the overall goals and the impacts set for the achievement of the project. The effectiveness on the research is measured according to the achievement of the objectives and the major factors influencing the achievement and non- achievement goals. The efficiency of the measures lies on the part of the output based on qualitative and quantitative measures. Efficiency evaluation comprises of cost efficient and the implementation of the most efficient and the alternatives. The impact of the project brings a lot of impact on the development intervention which comprises of both social and economic development indicators. For example, beneficiaries in the project; sustainability lies on the measuring the benefit of every activity which is likely to sustain itself after the donor withdraws2. The project should cater for itself both social and financially stable. The table below shows criteria for Evaluation The long term involves the nature and improvements of the

What factors affect tourism in Oxford and your home city write an Essay

What factors affect tourism in Oxford and your home city write an not more than 600 words(300 words on Oxford and 300 words on factor affecting tourism in your country) - Essay Example Instead, brands should be developed around themes that are linked to the interest of the people and tourists. Culture is essential for a successful and a high-quality tourism industry. Oxford does not make enough of the culture and some cultural providers even never realize the importance of incorporating culture in tourism. Values and culture are essential additional products to the tourism industry. They provide a sense of ownership to the community members as well improve their quality of life. Thus, the tourism industry needs to realize the importance of culture and values of art. Poor tourism infrastructure is a major issue in oxford. The tourist attractions are okay, but there is still room for improvement especially in accommodation, information and transport facilities (Pritchard, Morgan, and Ateljevic, 952). Improvement in the infrastructure is, therefore, essential to increase the number of tourists visiting i.e. provision of better transport for tourists and ensuring that the streets are clean Creation of sustainability in the tourism industry is a major factor. Sustainability needs to be consumer focused and being aware of the visitor’s perceptions of Oxford as well as improving their experience. The industry has not reached the local people. Thus, campaigns are needed to enlighten the residents of oxford on the benefits and importance associated with tourism, and the sector needs to focus more on the consumer needs. Global economies affect the tourism industry in oxford. In the case of a weak UK or US economy, then this makes it to be a very expensive destination for visitors from the US. Thus, it is important to seek new alternative markets and demonstrate their good value for money (Glasson, 138). Russia is among the top 15 countries in the world in terms of the country’s world heritage and cultural resources. However, the countries tourism industry accounts for only 3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product that can be

Strategies to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Research Paper

Strategies to Reduce Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Research Paper Example   Such policies set by developed and developing nations that are members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have been fundamental in articulating measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The UK, for instance, initiated its 2010 to 2015 policy on greenhouse gas emissions (Committee on Climate Change, 2015). The U.S has policies aimed at reducing the level of emission of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2013). EPA proposed emission standards to be recognized by states (ALEC, 2014; Utech, 2014). President Obama’s action plan on climate change also articulate measures to reduce carbon emission levels (US Climate Action Network, 2014). Besides, similar policies in other IPCC member countries have been instrumental in articulating measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, UNEP launched a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 (UNEP, 2011). The WMO, in coordination with UNEP, initiated the IPCC in 1988 with the mandate to regulate global warming. Under the panel, member countries work on a global policy strategy to reduce climate change and manage its influence following the agreements drafted at Lima, Peru. The draft by the nations stipulates that developing and developed countries would be responsible for fighting against global warming under different circumstances (Nordhaus, 2011). However, policies set by IPCC member countries have not proved as viable strategies to combat climate change.   

TOURIST ATTRACTION SITE VISIT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

TOURIST ATTRACTION SITE VISIT - Essay Example These hotels provide amazing facilities to tourists. I asked organizing committee about procedures for purchasing tickets for soccer season. They replied, online tickets for complete season can be purchased at cheap rates and it is also possible to select the place of own choice for watching the matches in stadium. I asked organizers that what all facilities are available at the stadium for watching soccer competitions. They replied, they have introduced great facilities like, bathrooms, food, cheerleaders, sound effects and screens for adding all sorts of fun in the events. Who all are tough teams in the event? Mayor said, â€Å"Houston Dynamo† and â€Å"Dallas† are the best teams of the event. I asked how many stadiums are available for hosting the event. Mayor counted four stadiums including a newly constructed state of the art stadium. What is tailgating in Houston? Mayor said that you have snacks and hotdogs before start of the match is tailgating. What are the other tourist destinations in Houston? Mayor replied, space Centre and downtown aquarium are worth visiting places. Organizing committee told me to visit Orange Avenue as well. This avenue provides free souvenirs, food, shirts and a band plays there to entertain people. I am enjoying the opening games 2014 more than my expectations. It is so fascinating and colourful for people of any place in the world. I heard about the Houston and soccer events from my friend and then visited online sources. After coming here, I am not ready to leave this place now. Event is so organized that tourists do not feel any problem in their activities. There is one problem that spectators cannot buy single ticket for a match and they have to buy for complete season. Organizers need to look into this matter. Moreover, stadiums with more capacity should be constructed for accommodating huge crowds. Dynamo started the season against â€Å"New England Revolution† on 8 Mar 2014. There is a long

Argumentive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Argumentive - Essay Example Similarly mass murders are carried out by boys more often. Results show that all these teens seemed to have harbored a deep feeling of hopelessness or rage. Other factors that compel boys to respond more to peer pressure includes the violence and music they face while playing video and television games (Decter, pars. 11-13). In the process of trying to prove themselves, boys tend to get attracted to power. With power comes responsibility. Misuse of it leads to delinquent behaviors. To be a part of a specific group, adolescents acquire specific traits. This helps them in socializing and the peer pressure compels them to remain rooted to those traits. A social ecological influence leads a person to adopt specific behaviors and hinders them from doing certain things. Certain studies are carried out that report the affect of peers on tendency towards delinquent behaviors. One such study is carried out that uses data from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. They conclude fro m this data that adolescents who hang around with delinquent peers tend to be more delinquent. Also, if the choice of their friends is not structured, they develop a tendency to be delinquent. They also conclude that to some extent age, gender, institution, or family structure does not intervene from the influence adolescents accept from their peers. This study has also divided their results based on socialization and opportunity models. A number of social and parental control variables are also considered in this study. This helps understand the impact of social circle of peers and their tendency to be delinquent (Haynie, pars 1-7). Delinquent behavior is not only the result of peer pressure but also societal issues that push people towards such extremes. Studies have shown that adolescents are forced towards delinquent actions to avoid being the outcast in a society. They get addicted to please people and do things to get in their good book that they won't do under normal circumst ances. Adolescents need to stay focused on principles in order to realize they are not crossing any lines when it comes to moral values. This can be achieved through values taught at their homes. It needs to be strongly embedded in the child's brain that they understand who they are and what they need and what ways are moral or immoral to attain their goals. The development of this understanding is only possible if the family is complete and not a broken home. Single parents may not be able to instill a sense of responsibility in their teens alone. They might require additional help as in the case of Hubert who was supervised by his mother alone. She had to look after other children as well and to make his space in society among people who do not mock him, he joined a gang. The importance of the role of father supervision in a boy's life is highlighted in this case. Adolescents who get carried away due to peer pressure need to be guided by a trusted but authoritative family member w ho can influence the adolescent and make the teen realize the implications of their actions (Greer, pars 2-4). The role of parents in controlling delinquent behaviors has been discussed a lot in the past. It has been noted that parents who spend more time with their children and keep in touch with their social circle seem to prevent them from delinquent company. This phenomenon can be categorized as exposure control as the parents control who their

TOURIST ATTRACTION SITE VISIT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

TOURIST ATTRACTION SITE VISIT - Essay Example These hotels provide amazing facilities to tourists. I asked organizing committee about procedures for purchasing tickets for soccer season. They replied, online tickets for complete season can be purchased at cheap rates and it is also possible to select the place of own choice for watching the matches in stadium. I asked organizers that what all facilities are available at the stadium for watching soccer competitions. They replied, they have introduced great facilities like, bathrooms, food, cheerleaders, sound effects and screens for adding all sorts of fun in the events. Who all are tough teams in the event? Mayor said, â€Å"Houston Dynamo† and â€Å"Dallas† are the best teams of the event. I asked how many stadiums are available for hosting the event. Mayor counted four stadiums including a newly constructed state of the art stadium. What is tailgating in Houston? Mayor said that you have snacks and hotdogs before start of the match is tailgating. What are the other tourist destinations in Houston? Mayor replied, space Centre and downtown aquarium are worth visiting places. Organizing committee told me to visit Orange Avenue as well. This avenue provides free souvenirs, food, shirts and a band plays there to entertain people. I am enjoying the opening games 2014 more than my expectations. It is so fascinating and colourful for people of any place in the world. I heard about the Houston and soccer events from my friend and then visited online sources. After coming here, I am not ready to leave this place now. Event is so organized that tourists do not feel any problem in their activities. There is one problem that spectators cannot buy single ticket for a match and they have to buy for complete season. Organizers need to look into this matter. Moreover, stadiums with more capacity should be constructed for accommodating huge crowds. Dynamo started the season against â€Å"New England Revolution† on 8 Mar 2014. There is a long

Course Work 1 Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Course Work 1 - Coursework Example The introduction needs to be more specific, using apt legal terminology, and stating the facts of the case clearly. Besides, the introduction should also have identified the terms of reference of the court, or the basic point at dispute in the court, right at the beginning of the summary and not in the second body passage. In many places, the summary lacks clarity due to spelling errors or failing to follow the appropriate norms of writing. For example, â€Å"whether† is spelt in the second paragraph as â€Å"weather† and the name Pretty has not been capitalised, thus creating a misunderstanding in the readers that the word is used in the sense of an adjective rather than as a name. The summary also fails to use the exact legal terminology while referring to several of the legal aspects of the case. For instance, the term â€Å"blanket prohibition on euthanasia and assisted suicide† has often been referred to as merely â€Å"blanket† that confuses the read ers. In addition, the summary also flouts many conventions of professional writing and on occasions relegates itself to the level of an informal talk. The use of contractions and second person POV are some examples of this. The summary calls for a revision, and rewriting, by meticulously following the usual conventions for writing professional legal summaries. It needs to be outlined properly and structured logically by organising it in an appropriate sequence. The writer also needs to be specific and use proper legal jargons rather than writing in layman language. This will render the text a better flow and cohesiveness apart from clearly communicating the ideas of the writer to the audience. Rewritten Summary: An appeal was filed by Nicklinson & others in the Divisional Court against a decision of the European Court of Justice, naming the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) as prime respondent. The terms of reference for the court were: (1) to determine whether necessity constitu tes a sufficient reason as defence against prosecution in the case of euthanasia or assisted suicide, (2) whether prohibition of assisted suicide constitutes a disproportionate interference with Art 8 of ECHR 1950, and (3) whether there is a necessity for DPP to clearly set out the circumstances under which prosecution will be initiated in cases of assisted suicide to make the law more transparent to healthcare professionals. The appellants, terminally suffering and crucially disabled, did not want to continue their lives but could not self-terminate. Thus, they wanted to seek medical assistance to kill themselves. With the above terms of references and using precedence in such cases, the court held that the case could not be ruled in the appellant’s (L) favour because such a decision would violate the sanctity of life as envisaged in Article 2. The court further held that it is unlawful under Sec 2 of the Suicide Act 2010 and if any person assists another in euthanasia or su icide, he or she will have to be prosecuted for homicide. Further, on the issue of whether necessity constitutes and defence against prosecution in the case of assisted suicide, as in the case of Purdy Vs United Kingdom (2010) AC 45, the court ruled that the blanket prohibition on euthanasia or assisted suicide cannot be construed as disproportionate interference with Article 8 of ECHR 1950, which protects the privacy of a citizen. The court further

Link Between Oppression And Social Labelling Sociology Essay

Link Between Oppression And Social Labelling Sociology Essay As a member of a minority group this subject is something of interest and has personal relevance to my experiences living in a pre-dominantly white society. The absence of appropriate Asian role models in the media such as television, films, history, newspapers and in positions of credible political and economic influence, stimulated a natural process of personal questioning of identify. The social labels which surround us either positive or negative shape our perceptions of self and influence the kind of decisions we make. If we dont understand the social fabrics of society in which self is developed and do not nurture a genuine inquiry into how oppression functions, we end up living those social labels. Some of these can be harmful and cause us to become disadvantaged even to the point of oppression of ourselves. It could be argued that this is an unlikely phenomena but psychological oppression is a well-researched and uncontested concept amongst academics. I am simply referring to and naming what it really is, internalised self-oppression. This paper will attempt to examine the discourses and ideas which shape and influence our understanding of oppression as well as establishing a link between this and social labelling. Oppression as a concept has a very broad meaning and relates to different forms of minority groups in different ways. In this paper I will explore the relationship of oppression drawing on various forms of resources and information to support a particular perceptive. It should be recognised that oppression is not exclusive to race but impacts on other groups such as women, disability, age, sexual orientation and class with varying degrees of intensity and differences. However, for the purposes of this assignment I will specifically focus on the concept of race. I will present the four key criterias of oppression presented by Ann Cudd in her book Analysing Oppression (Cudd, 2006) and then focus on the effects of social labelling as phenomena. I will present a view that in order to understand oppression w e must also understand the social systems, structures and influences that facilitates internalised oppression. My conclusion will aim to provide some suggestions towards highlighting how to end oppression and limit or reduce its effect on individuals who are exposed to the dynamics of oppression. Defining layers of oppression History literature books document oppression in different ways from religious repression, class differences, poverty and wealth, language and knowledge just to name a few (Kernohan 1998). Oppression is traditionally understood to relate to the loss of freedom, free choice, independence and capabilities due to actions of those in positions of power (Wartenberg 1992). Half a century ago, if asked the question what is oppression, many would refer to slavery or colonialism. In this day and age there is a greater understanding and awareness of oppression. Iris Young a respected author on the subject of power and oppression highlights how oppression has a much broader understanding making reference to systematic and structural phenomena that are not necessary the result of the intentions of a tyrant. Oppression in the structural sense is part of the basic fabric of a society, not a function of a few peoples choice or policies(Young, 1992, p. 176). In this respect oppression can be consider ed to be in the psychological and behavioural patterns of every member of society including those who are well meaning individuals whether they are aware of it or not. Oppression as we once thought of is far more subtle, as Jean Harvey explains civilised oppression involves neither physical violence nor the use of law. Yet these subtle forms are by far the most prevalent in Western industrialised societies (Harvey, 1999, P. 1). Recognising different forms of oppression means decoding cultural and societal norms which do not clearly categorise or has a clear distinct oppressor. We all contribute to oppression in different ways and perpetuate forms of harm consciously or unconsciously, either to ourselves or to others (Harvey, 1999). Ann Cudd helps us to explain this further by outlining four key criterias which are necessary and appropriate in increasing our understanding of oppression: Oppression must involve some sort of physical or psychological harm, though it may not be recognised as harm by the ones who are oppressed (Cudd, 1994, p.25). So harm can be imposed without being self-conscious limiting ones freedom of choice relative to other in ones society (Cudd, 1994, p.25). Oppression is a kind of harm that individual members of group suffer by virtue of their membership in that group. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦harm that comes to persons because they belong to a group that they closely identify with, so that the harm attaches to their very self-image (ibid). Individuals are not oppressed as individuals but due to their membership to a specific group, such as race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Keith Vaz MP might not be considered as being oppressed although black men in society are. He has the same limitations as other black men who have less power in society and will have obstacles to cross that other white men take for privilege. The third criteria, is what Cudd refers to as the privilege group (Cudd, 1998). She makes the point that an individual who has membership to a group which benefits from the oppression is advantaged by their association and status. However, not every individual member of the group will be intentionally or knowingly benefiting but they gain from the membership to that group. Oppression must involve some kind of coercion or force ((Cudd, 1994). Coercion is the lack of ability to make free choice. Cudd goes on to explain that coercion is not the absence of all choice, but a lack of the right kind of choices, namely, voluntary choices (Cudd, 1994, p. 27). Cudd suggests that this is what explains injustices of oppression. A further dimension My concept of oppression will focus on Ann Cudds coercion criteria with some variation. Not all coercion might be considered immoral as an explanation towards injustices of oppression. There are other forms of oppression, more subtle kinds which equally are not coercive such as psychological oppression. Prilleltensky and Nelson make reference to Sandra Bartky who states To be psychologically oppressed is to be weighed down in your mind; it is to have a harsh dominion exercised over your self-esteem. The psychologically oppressed become their own oppressors; they come to exercise harsh dominion over their own self-esteem. Differently put, psychological oppression can be regarded as the internalisation of intimations of inferiority ((Isaac Prilleltensky, 2002, p. 13). In this respect there is no force or coercion; individuals will have the ability to make free choice in making decisions, so the lack of voluntary choice is not affected. Individuals who are psychologically oppressed become their own persecutors. The options are available to them but they are only likely to make decisions and choices which their culture or community demands of them. There are other forms of elements of oppression at work which are dynamic, fluent and interact, as oppression doesnt occur in isolation but many forces come together in order to hold people in a state of oppression (Frye 2005). Oppression is well documented throughout history and in literature. Particular references are made to slavery of the treatment of African slaves, the holocaust and the suffering and torture of European Jews. The systematic discrimination against sexual minorities including gay and lesbians ((Cudd, 2006). The disproportionate use of stop and search against black minorities being seven times more likely to be stopped by the police compared whites ((Muffler, 2006). The above examples make reference to the way in which physical ill-treatment is used to subjugate particular groups of people. However, the most efficient and effective way a society can propagate oppression is by a system of non-physical means transforming into a process of what we call negative labelling or commonly referred to as stereotyping. There are many studies undertaken which highlight the effects of stereotyping on particular groups. This includes how these groups of individuals self-categorise themselves into positive or negative stereotyping which either way leads to negative and damaging effects. Michael Hogg refers to a study undertaken by Jost and Elsbach suggesting the link between stereotyping and power differentials as a negative force within social relations which results in distortion, control and false awareness of the oppressed groups reality ((Hogg, 2002). The element of control is imbedded into the consciousness of the individuals being stereotyped. Altshuller refers to the following quote by Jost and Banaji those with power can control ideas, beliefs, and stereotypes in the same way they control other social and material resources and can thereby instil a false consciousness in the powerless such that the powerless become complicit in their own disadvantage ((Altshuller, 1999, p. 325). The weak becom e accepting of their position of being oppressed and psychologically become their own oppressors by self-limiting their opportunities and life chances. Cudd makes the following point, it is not that they (the psychologically oppressed) will prefer oppression to justice, or subordination to equality, rather they will prefer the kinds of social roles that tend to subordinate them, make them less able to choose, or give them fewer choices to make (Cudd, 2008, p. 114). There has been varying degrees of research analysing the relationship between oppression and stereotyping which support findings that individuals who are negatively stereotyped adopt the stereotyping. This in turn sets into motion self-defeating beliefs which develops into limiting factors in accessing life opportunities. In a study conducted by Devos and Banaji they refer to how stereotyping leads to a type of phenomenon that results in self-stereotyping ((Banaji, et el, 2005). However, stereotyping distorts the reality of the lived experiences of individuals who are being stereotyped. Sayers suggests that the media influences our perceptions and that these perceptions then influence our behaviour towards stereotyped groups (Sayre, 2009, p. 318). So for example if we see a rebellious young teenage black adolescent, we may perceive him/her as having a violent culture in comparison to a white civilised European culture. Instead of challenging institutional oppression we use blame to shift the focus of responsibility (Cudd, 2006). Stereotyping can be damaging in other ways. According to the theory of stereotype threat ((Laurie A. Rudman, 2008) the existence of such stereotypes means that anything one does or any of the ones features that conform to it make the stereotype more plausible as a self-characterisation in the eyes of others, and perhaps even in ones own eyes (Steele and Aronson, 1995, p. 797). A further dimension to stereotyping is direct situational threat that arises through negative stereotyping. This relates to the risk of being treated or judged in a stereotypical way or even perhaps self-fulfilling the stereotype. Immediate situational threat is another result of the negative stereotypes against a group. That is the threat of the possibility of being judged or treated stereotypically, or even self-fulfilling the stereotype. This stereotype threat, according to Stangor, Can befall anyone with a group identity about which some negative stereotype exists, and for the person to be threatened in this way he need not even believe the stereotype. He need only know that it stands as a hypothesis about him in situations where the stereotype is relevant(Stangor, 2000, p. 370). There are many studies carried out exploring the relationship between stereotype threat and poor intellectual tests (Weiten, 2012). Different people will react differently to situational threat. Individuals will either blame themselves for their lack of achievements or internalise inferiority, both of which leads to lowering their rank and status in society (Aronson, 1995). Internalising the blame leads to individuals not feeling they have the ability or confidence to succeed, therefore they are likely not even to make any attempt. So for example, I have always wanted to paraglide. It might not be in my capabilities, so have never tried and never will. However, it will not affect my life opportunities, impact on my quality of life or leave me in an oppressed social status. Nevertheless, self-blame could cause to decrease and lower quality of life. If self-blame is used for our lack of success on our incapacities, it would make it problematic to identify and challenge institutional op pression. Self-blame is the final ingredient in maintaining oppression. Realigning the balance In order to redress the balance, there are different ways to overcome oppression in culture and attain a more egalitarian society. This requires personal commitment in challenging oppressive structure. It requires re-structuring of established institutions and the thought processes that influences them. It is helpful to remember that simply making policies to encourage change does not help, although policies give some direction reflecting where society is going, it does not simply promote social justice and reduce oppression (OConnor, 2003, p. 20). It is not a far-fetched view, that stereotyping is used to justify all kinds of harms on groups of individuals. Harm causes damage to ones ability. Therefore any harm that violates ones self and their development of human ability is a violation of universal and human rights (Nussbaum, 2001). The impact and effect of negative labelling attacks and destroys his/her sense of self image by violating their experiences. This violation occurs not only physically but through years of training and being subject to negative messages, instilling a false consciousness and it is this which results in oppression. All human beings have a right to live free of physical and emotional violations which results in any form of harm. Each individual has the right to dignity, self-worth, and to maximise their internal potential without the fear of abuse. Through self-stereotyping, if we lack the confidence that we do not have abilities then we are less likely to pursue and develop our capabilities. However, simply having basic human rights is not sufficient to bypass the harm which oppression causes. Challenging cultural dynamics, religious practices and social norms which create the kinds of conditions for oppression to flourish should be confronted through education and providing information enabling individuals to make decisions and choices that do not violate their sense of self. Developing influential role models that advocate and develop a collective identify regardless of their individuality can assist in developing images of credible and honourable representatives. Such individuals would help to counter the negative portrayal of groups which are likely to be exposed to some form of negative labelling. Conclusion The path to ending all forms of oppression is by far not an easy journey. More often than not minority leaders rarely challenge the structures or the system but instead they adapt to increase their own access to power. It is not uncommon that many minority leaders holding positions of influence create an impression of equality of opportunity which is reassuring to the privilege groups. However, this kind of representation could be damaging to the oppressed groups, as it distorts the reality of the oppressed, ignoring the very real problem with cultural oppression. This has the risk of overlooking the conditions and social problems which keeps people in their underprivileged positions. Rather than focusing on readdressing the system, oppressed groups are ridiculed, blamed and stereotyped for their circumstances (Segal, 2009). To overcome the impact of self-stereotyping, simply ending social stereotype is not enough. More needs to be done to increase individuals ability and self-worth, so that every member of society can enjoy their true human rights. Social conditioning starts at a very early age, which defines our identity and the realisation of our ability or the lack of it. If we focus on countering the destructive stereotypes in our communities, then drawing our attention at children when they are young might be a start. This would include improving the quality of education and funding for the schools, but also ensure that funding is distributed equally to avoid creating a culture of differential treatment. Education of adults is another element which would assist in reducing oppression. What is needed here is effective training that not only focuses on the future members of society but also on those individuals who are affected by oppression and stereotype threat currently. In this exists the challenge and the goal at reversing the stereotypes and reconstructing individual capabilities. Re-establishing and re-developing the undermined capabilities is our primary task here. Education which raises the awareness and empower oppressed groups should benefit from public support. There is no doubt that education itself is not just simply a cure to a complex range of dynamics such as oppression but it remains the most firmly established institution towards seeking restoration. An educational method originating and centred from the experiences of the oppressed is what is needed. In his book, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire gives the following quote: Just as the oppressor, in order to op press, needs a theory of oppressive action, so the oppressed, in order to become free, also need a theory of action. The oppressor elaborates his theory of action without the people, for he stands against them. Nor can the people-as long as they are crushed and oppressed, internalizing the image of the oppressor-construct by themselves the theory of their liberating action. Only in the encounter of the people with the revolutionary leader-in their communion, in their praxis-can this theory be built (Freire, 2007, p. 183). Having leaders with integrity and institutional support are the necessary elements in the ending of oppression. Greater understanding and awareness should be developed into making individuals motivation independent from the negative identities, so that we have a society that is built on strong ambitious people. As part of a broader community, restructuring the capabilities which have been damaged and developing people to an equal threshold of using their potential and capabilities. Encouraging positive perceptions of identity would result in opening up many different possibilities and experiences which is critical in undermining the negative patterns of thoughts and feelings which result in internalising the oppression. Reducing the patterns of oppressive thoughts would be one of the first challenges towards making progress in ending all forms of internal and external oppression.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn Essay

Alexander Solzhenitsyn's purpose in episodes one and two of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich is to develop Ivan Denisovich Shukhov as a mediator for personal views and then to present those views on life, prison, and authority to the reader. This purpose is accomplished by the author's use of characterization, symbolism, and aphorism. The reader's knowledge of Shukhov is almost as restricted as the rules set forth in Shukhov's prison, and there is nothing that sets Shukhov apart from the rest of the prisoners. This allows the reader to focus less on him as a character and more on what he is intended to convey. The author’s first use of characterization occurs in the quotation, "Shukhov never overslept reveille. He always got up at once, for the next ninety, until they assembled for work, belonged to him, not to the authorities" (17). Through this quotation, the reader recognizes how Shukhov is willing to partake in the many challenges set forth by authority, but still appreciates the time he can set aside for himself. This characterization of Shukhov shows that the author values the idea of self-awareness. This is essential further in the novel as seen when Shukhov reflects on the importance of mealtime or breaks as solely for one's self, which contrastingly reveals the extent in which authority has stolen time from the prisoners. Another example of characterization stems from the quotation, "Shukhov realized, as he had guessed on the way there, that he wasn't being sent to the guardhouse at all—it was simply that the guardroom floor needed scrubbing" (23). This quotation shows that Shukhov has an in-depth understanding of the operations within his prison and can be trusted by the reader to provide reliable exposure. The rea... ... the prisoners survived. This is necessary to understand for later in the novel when an importance is placed on one's ability to outsmart the authority in order to actually survive prison. For instance, when Shukhov tricks the cook in prison into giving his squad more dishes. By using aphorisms from Shukhov, Solzhenitsyn is able to express universal truths to discredit the communistic society around him, a personal view he wished to share on a global scale. Through the characterization of Shukhov, the use of symbolism, and the use of aphorisms, Solzhenitsyn is able to recognize Shukhov as a mediator of his personal views thus providing the reader with the observations that he has made as a prisoner himself. Works Cited Solzhenitsyn, Alexander. One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. Trans. Ralph Parker. New York: E.P. Dutton, a Division of Penguin, 1963. Print.

Womens Brain Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Women's Brain Women have smaller brains than that of their male counterpart. Since the ability to think is partly determined by the size of the brain it is obvious to an accurate researcher if I were to ignore the differences between the male and female brain. The question to be posed is, with the knowledge of the function of the human brain, can a scientist accurately determine if the differences in the way males and females perform various tasks is a biological phenomena, or rather as a result of social persuasion? All kinds of research have shown that the bigger the brain, generally, the smarter the animal. (1) However, as Emily Dickinson might agree, it is not the size of the brain that counts, but rather what is contained within the brain. Human male brains are, on average, approximately 10% larger than that of the female, but this is because of men's larger body size: more muscle cells imply more neurons to control them. (3) If the size of the brain is not the determinate factor of the diffe rences between the male and female brain what is? Of special interest to researchers of this subject was the amount of gray matter, the part of the brain that allows us to think. The researchers wanted to know if women have as much gray matter as men. (1) It would be logical to conclude that if there is less gray matter, the component of the brain associated with the thinking process, than obviously, biologically men and superior in intellect to women. However, as is the case with many biological researches, more questions arose than were answered. According to one psychology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, there is no difference in the amount of gray matter in men and women. To make up for the smaller brain size, women ... ...s. The political brain. http://www.home.aone.net.au/think/brainsx.html 3. 3}Are There Differences between the Brains of Males and Females?,Intellectual differences among the sexes. http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n11/mente/eisntein/cerebro-homens.html 4. 4}Left/Right Brain?,Left or right brained. http://www.helpself.com/brain.htm 5. 5}La Difference,Who is the better sex? http://www.nytimes.com/auth/login?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/books/99/07/11/reviews/990711.11holtlt.html&OP=bd2d6ebQ2F@Q25Q7BD@!PqQ7DQ5BPPQ23@DPPIQ7D@Q24Q24@F5@xx@Q5BQ7BNdQ7BQ25Q7D@Q24Q24F5xxfxx_PQ51Q23Q51Q23f_Q23iQ51 6. 6}Traumatic Tests: Gender Bias and the SATs,SAT statistics.conclude that men are superior to women in intellect, right? Now I would not be a proud Bryn Mawr woman if I were to agree with this logic. However, I would not be http://home.earthlink.net/~lfdean/sat.html

Historical King Arthur Essay

King Arthur is one of the most well known historical figures of all time. One of the most interesting debates surrounding the legends and tales of King Arthur is whether or not he truly existed. The debate has its roots in the Renaissance time when Arthur’s existence was defended as the basis for the Tudor monarchs to trace their ancestry back to King Arthur as a way to hold onto their reign. Modern historians argue that a King Arthur may have existed though he was not the same King Arthur in the much loved legends and tales that have been passed down from generation to generation. This debate will continue as there has been no logical proof that King Arthur did actually exist (The Camelot Project, 1). At the same time, the influence of King Arthur will remain an important part of history as well. King Arthur has had a significant influence on literature, art, music and society as far back as the Middle Ages. The legend of Arthur projects him as a great legendary British king born to Uther Pendragon and Igraine. Some versions of the legend also include information regarding three half sisters of Arthur. Arthur married Guinevere and legend says they had no children together although Arthur did father children. Some versions of the Arthur legend contend that Perlesvaus was fathered by Arthur and Guinevere but other versions say this is not so (Joe, 1). Further, in various versions of the legend, Arthur’s son had different names. One legend states that Arthur killed his son while another says his son died after being attacked by a wild boar (Joe, 1). These ancestorial facts are unclear and vary across different versions of the legends which is perhaps one reason why the existence of a real King Arthur is so heavily debated. There has been no archeological evidence that a real King Arthur ever existed. Without absolute proof it is difficult to separate potential facts from the many legends that surround King Arthur (Joe, 1). Perhaps the reason why the legend of King Arthur is so popular is because King Arthur was a bright light in the face of treachery and darkness (Snell, 1). King Arthur brought peace to his land by defending it from every danger and also expanding his empire to encompass great amounts of land. Under the command of King Arthur, a group of knights helped the helpless, battled evil and scoured the land for holy relics. The courageous nature of King Arthur makes him a true hero that many generations of people have looked up to. He gave people hope in sorrowful times by being the type of ruler that looked out for the weak and the poor. Despite the fact that King Arthur is so loved and admired, he remains a legend. There is no existing proof that can provide without a doubt that King Arthur is a true historical figure. Instead, the legend of King Arthur will remain a legend (Snell, 1). The vast amount of literature and other media that focus on King Arthur may cause some people to assume that these stories are based in part on fact. However, there is no evidence that any of the facts surrounding the legend of King Arthur are true. Part of the reason why so many people assume that King Arthur is a true historical figure may be based on The History of the Kings of Britain which details the life and rule of the exalted King Arthur (Snell, 1). This historical document provides so many in depth details about King Arthur that many find it hard to argue with. However, the reference for this document has never been found so the facts included within cannot be proven. Further, some are of the opinion that the author of this document, Geoffrey of Monmouth, wrote the history in order to make others view his people in a more positive light (Snell, 1). There are many scholarly facts that aid in disproving the actual existence of King Arthur. These are the facts that enable King Arthur to keep his place in history as one of the most noble and well loved kings of all time. Legend holds that King Arthur was able to single handedly lead an assault that left nine hundred dead and allowed him to reign as king for nearly one hundred years. Legend also holds that King Arthur fought giants and strange beasts and was led by a red dragon (Ogden-Korus, 1). Since none of these mythological creatures or fantastic feats are possible, it can be assumed that King Arthur is a legend as well. This leads to the goal of many scholars. They wish to uncover facts that may prove whether there really was a King Arthur behind all the folklore (Ogden-Korus, 1). So far, they have been unsuccessful in proving that King Arthur ever did exist so he remains a legend to this day. In order to find proof of King Arthur, many archeologists have attempted to find concrete evidence that can be directly traced to the legendary king. There is very little evidence in Britain that can be traced back to the time of King Arthur. For example, the primary building tool during King Arthur’s time was wood, which completely decomposes over time and would not provide any proof of the existence of King Arthur. Further, the field of archeology cannot deal with specifics (Ogden-Korus, 1). Instead, archeologists analyze existing evidence and make educated guesses regarding ancient history. With regards to the place and times of King Arthur, these educated guesses have led to the conclusion that King Arthur is simply a legend. One of the most common associations with King Arthur is Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table. However, this connection cannot be considered fact. The legend of King Arthur is said to have lived during the sixth century but the creation of Camelot did not come into existence until the twelfth century when it became a part of literature (Ogden-Korus, 1). There are other more compelling discoveries that have aided in spreading the opinion that King Arthur did once exist. However, this evidence, while compelling, is not concrete. For example, Tintagel Castle, the alleged birthplace of King Arthur was a thirteenth century castle so it could not have existed during the time of King Arthur. However, in 1998, an archeological dig at Tintagel Castle uncovered a sixth century fort underneath the castle (Giger, 1). This evidence alone does not point to the existence of King Arthur. There are many sixth century forts in England and Wales and the discovery of this one does not provide concrete evidence that King Arthur ever existed – only that a sixth century fort existed where legend says that King Arthur was born (Giger, 1). This type of evidence is exciting and motivates historians and scholars to continue their search for evidence that King Arthur did exist. However, at this time no concrete evidence has been discovered to prove the King Arthur was anything more than a legend. Despite the fact that there is no definitive proof that King Arthur ever existed, there have been many myths that surround his name. Camelot is the perhaps the most well known myth that surrounds the legend of King Arthur. As previously discussed, Camelot did not come into existence until it was included in literature in the twelfth century (Ogden-Korus, 1). Camelot is the most well known and famous castle associated with King Arthur. Experts agree that Camelot is most likely a fictional place because its exact location is unknown. â€Å"Camelot, located no where in particular, can be anywhere† (Lacy, 67). The myth of Camelot has been allowed to spread because of how much people respect and admire the legend of King Arthur. The various versions of the myths surrounding King Arthur often contradict one another but people are willing to overlook such discrepancies because the writings about King Arthur are so captivating and entertaining (Miller, 1). People want to believe that such a magnificent person could really have existed so they get caught up in the myths surrounding King Arthur and begin to believe that he was a real person. Another myth that the legend of King Arthur has influenced is the legend of Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table. Sir Lancelot is considered one of the best and one of the worst knights in the court of King Arthur (Sir Lancelot Online, 1). Lancelot is a creation of literature that emerged at the same time that Camelot did. In this portrayal, Lancelot becomes the most valuable knight of King Arthur. He was chivalrous and brave and accomplished many important tasks including rescuing Guinevere from Meleagant and once again rescuing her from being burned to death for committing adultery with him (Sir Lancelot Online, 1). Sir Lancelot helped contribute to the myths surrounding King Arthur because his heroic deeds made King Arthur look good. Ultimately, Lancelot betrays King Arthur by committing adultery with Guinevere but this too makes King Arthur look good because people pity him for the wrongs committed against him. Another important and famous myth surrounding King Arthur that has contributed to the admiration of many is his sword, Excalibur. Excalibur is said to have magical powers. Part of the reason why the myth of Excalibur makes King Arthur so admired is because some versions of the myth discuss how King Arthur pulled the sword from a stone thus making himself appear magical and strong. However, other versions of the myth keep Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone separate. The myth that includes King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone provides some with evidence that he was a true king because only a true king would be able to even pull the sword out of the stone. Other versions say that Excalibur was a sword the King Arthur obtained through Merlin from the Lady of the Lake (Ford, 1). The fact that King Arthur used such powerful weapons also provides a compelling reason why so many people believe in the power of King Arthur. These weapons are also part of the reason why King Arthur has survived throughout history as one of the most revered kings of all time. One final aspect of the legend of King Arthur that has enabled him to live throughout history is the myth of Merlin. Merlin is a well known wizard that mentored King Arthur. Merlin had supernatural powers and abilities and is said to have engineered the birth of King Arthur through his magical powers (Briggs, 440). The magical powers that surrounded Merlin were of enormous benefit to King Arthur because they enabled him to accomplish great things. These great things are what has allowed King Arthur to become as legendary as he remains today. King Arthur is a real historical figure in that many people truly believe that he actually existed. This belief has been passed down from generation to generation so that the legend of King Arthur has become real to so many people. The fantastic accomplishments that are credited to King Arthur make him a much loved and respected ruler. At the same time, the magic and mystic that surround King Arthur provide a sense of mystery that captivates people into believing the myths. These myths have allowed King Arthur to rise in prestige and remain so popular. However, there is no historical or archeological proof that King Arthur ever existed. If such proof is out there it has yet to be discovered. The fact that the legend of King Arthur is so well known and loved has allowed the myths associated with the legendary king to become valid parts of the King Arthur legend. For example, most people do not realize that Camelot and Lancelot are fictional creations that came into existence some five hundred years after the time of King Arthur. These myths have provided King Arthur with a reputation of greatness that cannot be based on historical fact. At the same time, there is no harm in allowing people to believe that King Arthur was real because in the hearts of many King Arthur was real. There is no definitive data to back this assumption up but this does not deter many people from believing in the existence of King Arthur. In the end, history has not proven that King Arthur truly existed but literature and movies have created a character that is so loved that he has become â€Å"real† and he will remain â€Å"real† as long as people continue to be captivated by the legend of the King Arthur and the myths that surround him. Briggs, Katharine Mary. An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies and Other Supernatural Creatures. New York: Pantheon Books, 1976. 440. Ford, David Nash. â€Å"Excalibur. † Brittania. 2000. 17 Feb 2009 . Giger, Remus. â€Å"In Search of†¦ King Arthur. † Associated Content. 2007. 17 Feb 2009 . Joe, Jimmy. â€Å"King Arthur. † Timeless Myths. 1999. 17 Feb 2009 . Lacy, Norris J. â€Å"Camelot. † The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. New York: Garland, 1991. 67. Miller, Michael D. â€Å"The True Story. † Camelot: The True Story. Moffat, CO: Rideout Publishing, 2008. Ogden-Korus, Erin. â€Å"An Archeological Quest for the ‘Real’ King Arthur. 1999. 17 Feb 2009 . Sir Lancelot Online. â€Å"Sir Lancelot of the Lake. † 17 Feb 2009 . Snell, Melissa. â€Å"The Truth of Arthur. A Legendary King. † About. com: Medieval History. 1999. 17 Feb 2009 . The Camelot Project. â€Å"Historical Arthur. † King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. 2001. 17 Feb 2009 .

Psycho Shower Scene Symbolic Analysis Essay

Psycho has many memorable scenes and objects, from the skeleton in the basement, the dark and creepy house to the first horrific murder in fictional movie history which takes place in the infamous shower scene. The shower scene of Psycho was one of the most controversial scenes in the movie, the era and possibly of all time. The point of the scene begins as the protagonist, Marion Crane, decides to return the money the has stolen and mulling the thoughts over, has a shower. But at closer scrutiny it is revealed that the shower is washing away the darkness and guilt of her crime and seems that she is becoming her innocent self again. The shower is almost unanimously all white, except the bright silver tap, now the white symbolises Marion’s innocence and goodness and that the guilt and evil of her crimes are being washed away, Until half way through the scene, the audience feels that this scene will be a bright and happy scene, until a dark blemish appears on the shower curtain. If light represents goodness, than logically darkness symbolises evil, the audience feels this as a dark spot is revealed on the curtain, which slowly grows larger and larger, showing that the danger is increasing as does the size of the darkness, this is what builds the suspense as consciously the audience is seeing a dark figure approach while their subconscious minds register the symbolism causing twice the tension as would be caused without the rest of the scene. The bathroom light is also visible from this angle and causes the shadow to appear that it is approaching the light. Soon the darkness is large enough to make out the figure of a person. A dark figure trying to destroy the light, it stands there, just long enough to give the audience time to try and work out who did it but their attention is then wrenched back to the movie by the loud piercing sound of screeching violins with only half formed suspicions racing through their minds as they watch in horror as the protagonist is horrifically murdered before their eyes, and a feeling of uselessness as the protagonist squeals her agonized cries and the audience can do nothing but sit and watch. In her last moments, Marion seems to be reaching for something, perhaps she feels herself slipping from this world and needs to feel a material object to maintain her grip on this world, either that, or she also could be reaching for the audience as if she is trying to say â€Å"why didn’t you help me? † She then proceeds to slowly sink to the floor as low pitch, sombre music starts to play. Her hand finally manages to find the shower curtain and wrenches it from the rail as she topples over the edge of the bath. The scene than shows that the one part of the shower that wasn’t white, the tap, the symbol of cleanliness puts on a darker purpose, washing away Marion’s blood, this shows that the symbolism of cleanliness can be used to both purge darkness but also to scrub one clean of it’s life. (petty morbid when you think about it) The final part of this scene begins with an extreme close up of Marion’s un-moving, unseeing, unblinking eye. The fact that the audience realise that their staring into death is quite unnerving, along with the fact that there appears to be a single tear on her face, which shows the immense sadness of the scene, one of the main reasons of the sadness was because the audience had bonded with her and that she had died leaving so much left to complete. After all that was the first time that a movie had killed off the main character as of yet. At the end of the scene, the camera pans around to reveal the money, left unnoticed, never to be revealed to anyone or reveal the truth of Marion’s true intentions. This reveals a sense of loneliness and unfulfilled purpose. If you really scrutinise the scene, it almost appears like the symbology has a story of its own†¦ A grey woman, torn between light and darkness, she had once been white but was lured by temptation and grew darker, now here she sits, realising all she had done and decides to rid herself of the darkness. The lets the darkness drop off her body and begins to cleanse herself till she sparkles once more, she surrounds herself with light and silver and feels the darkness ebbing away. A shadow appears behind her, approaching the her, it pulls back the light and ends her life, the woman reaches for something to hold, an anchor to the material world, to feel for one last time before she departs but ultimately just drags it with her. Then darkness, at the time too weak to change the light manipulates the silver, darkening it and using it to leech away whatever life the white woman had remaining, and leave nothing but a husk, an empty shell that once contained the woman in grey. The body of the woman sheds a tear in the memory of what it had once been, as the tempter gloats, covered in light on the outside yet shady and dark underneath.