Pragmatism and the Progressive Era - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2191 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/06/24 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Progressive Era Essay Did you like this example? Pragmatism is a concept developed by Charles Pierce, John Dewey, and William James which simply states that Pragmatists rejected all forms of absolutism and insisted that all principles be regarded as working hypotheses that must bear fruit in lived experience (Burke, 2007). George Mead always believed that the role of the scientist was to solve problems, and pragmatism adopted this same focus; that of the scientist whom is interested in generating ideas that help to solve the problems within society. According to George Ritzer, pragmatism directly relates to Meads sociological theory based on the fact that pragmatists believe that truth and reality are actively created through individual and social acts, the use of reflective consciousness allows people to base their knowledge of the world on what has proven useful to them in the past, and that our understanding of actors should be based on the actors conduct in the world (2011, p.422). The pragmatists rejected all forms of absolutism and insisted that all principles be regarded as working hypotheses. To Mead, pragmatism reflected the triumph of science and the scientific method within American society and their extension into the study of the social world belief in the superiority of scientific data over philosophical dogma and all other types of knowledge (Ritzer, 2011, p. 422). Mead insisted that City Hall would be the center of the reform movement and actively tried to reconcile research with political engagement (Shalin, 198 8, p. 923). Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Pragmatism and the Progressive Era" essay for you Create order According to Shalin, Mead agreed with the author, Le Bon, about the fact that socialist teachings tended to become dogmatic as it lays claim to a priori validity. Mead renounced all versions of socialism that sanctioned violent means, and expressed skepticism over Marxs economic analysis, which he found at odds with economic and political realities of the time (1988, p. 925). Mead believed that social democrats had taken over the quest for justice. They denounced revolutionary violence and instead became progressive reformers with an emphasis on pragmatism and opportunism. By the early 1900s Mead had moved away from Socialism and was identifying himself with the Progressive creed, which was basically an unswerving commitment to societal reform through non-violent constitutional methods (Shalin, 1988, p. 926). This credence is easily identified in a publication of Meads during his time at the University of Chicago, The Working Hypothesis in Social Reform (1899). In this document we see how Meads theories based on behaviorism and the mind are inextricably intertwined with the notion of pragmatism and progressive social reform: In social reform, or the application of intelligence to the control of social conditions, we must make a like assumption, and this assumption takes the form of belief in the essentially social character of human impulse and endeavor (Mead, 1899, p. 370) and What is the function of reflective consciousness in its attempt to direct conduct? The common answer is that we carry in thought the world as it should be, and fashion our conduct to bring this about (Mead, 1899, p. 371). The use of science to solve societal issues was an important part of Meads work in social reform. What he said in The Working Hypothesis in Social Reform shows clearly his belief in pragmatism and necessary reform: A conception of a different world comes to us always as the result of some specific problem which involves readjustment of the world as it is, not to meet a detailed ideal of a perfect universe, but to obviate the present difficulty; and the test of the effort lies in the possibility of this readjustment fitting into the world as it is. Reflective consciousness does not then carry us on to the world that is to be, but puts our own thought and endeavor into the very process of evolution (Mead, 1899, p. 371). According to Mary Jo Deegan, Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska, although Mind, Self, and Society is considered to be Meads most famous work, much of his work and writings, which contributed to social reform of his time, had been neglected (1978, p. 362). Deegan also asserts that, the examination of the biological basis of man, the evolution of society which is mirrored in the development of the self, and the use of science as a method for the individual to change society and, in effect, to change the generalized other, are all componential aspects of Meads view of man, his mind and self. (1978, p. 363). Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr created Hull House in 1889 on the South side of Chicago, Illinois after being inspired by visiting a similar settlement in London called Toynbee Hall. Addams and Starr believed that by living as neighbors to the impoverished residents of Chicagos ninth ward they would be able to better learn, understand, and help the residents. They found that the women of the ninth ward were in need of childcare and began their work by opening a kindergarten and nursery, as well as creating adult classes. Soon, other educated women had begun to join Hull House, including Julie Lathrop, Florence Kelley, Edith Abbott, Charlotte Perkins, and others. Addams, as a pragmatist, valued real life experience over theoretical generalizations and her methodology consisted of participant observation alongside empirical data and placed great importance on the vantage point of an issue. Her research was practiced through what she called the neighborly relation, which is an authent ic, caring relation between the researcher and the subject of the research (Ritzer, 2011, p. 307). According to Ritzer, Following the pragmatic creed of testing the truth of ideas by experience, Addams drew on her Hull House work to develop a sociological theory based on the conviction that people had now to begin to work collectively and cooperativelywhich meant learning to tolerate differences (2011, p. 309). Although Addams clearly identified with particular groups (pacifists, socialists, feminists, etc.), she refused to be labeled as such. This refusal was pragmatic rather than ideological. Addams commitment to social cohesion and cooperation prompted her to eschew what she perceived as divisive distinctions. Active democratic social progress was so essential to Addams that she did not want to alienate any group of people from the conversation or from the participation necessary for effective inclusive deliberation (Hamington, 2018). Addams was considered a practitioner of radical meliorism in her time; she challenged the existing structures of current pragmatism by advocating for the betterment of all society, rather than simply social progress. She termed this lateral progress; meaning that social advancement could not be declared through the breakthroughs or peak performances of a few, but could only authentically be found in social gains held in common (Hamington, 2018). Mead and Dewey held the progressive stance that poverty was a result of faulty organization of society, not the fault of the individual (Shalin, 1988, p. 930). Addams was of the same mind. She argued that the poor were often victims of circumstance and that it is the responsibility of society to develop a means for their participation in lateral progress. One of the great sociological innovations of Hull House were the methods designed for studying and publicizing the social problems of the time. They redefined these issues from being considered unavoidable and showed that they were subject to social control, social improvement, and social elimination (Ritzer, 2011, p. 313). John Dewey was a disciple of William James and applied pragmatic thinking to education. He proposed the learning by doing model, rather than simply memorizing facts, and that interest was an intrinsic part of learning. Although Dewey and his colleagues at the University of Chicago were consistent supporters of unionism, they at first limited their labor activism to participating as experts in the movement for educational reform. The movement addressed class issues from the vantage point of the laboring poor (Feffer, 1994, p. 117). Dewey began his experimental University Laboratory School in 1896. The participants and their activities brought together an extended community of reformers, academics, and parents who shared Deweys commitment to democratic education (Feffer, 1994, p. 119). His school avoided the regimentation that characterized most schools of the era and instead focused on educating through practical application of the material and the interests and needs of the students. Florence Kelley came to Hull House in 1891 where she opened an employment center and began conducting research on sweatshops for the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics. She was a member of the Socialist Labor Party and brought with her a sense of class-consciousness and conviction for the improvement of working conditions for all. At this point, Hull House became more involved in the labor movement. She advocated for minimum wage, shorter work days, and childrens rights, and was an activist for womens suffrage and African-American civil rights. During her time at Hull House, Kelley was able to advance her career as it provided her with a network to social organizations while bypassing male organizations in her pursuit of social activism, as at this time women were denied participation in formal politics. One major difference between early female sociologists and the theorists commonly associated with the pragmatist tradition is vantage point. Addams spoke from the vantage point of women, immigrants, children, and the poor. She addressed womens issues and womens suffrage with a conviction that many male pragmatists of the time could not match, even if they were sympathetic to womens issues. Dewey championed feminine contributions to philosophy: When women who are not mere students of other persons philosophy set out to write it, we cannot conceive that it will be the same in viewpoint or tenor as that composed from the standpoint of the different masculine experience of things (Keith, 1999, p. 330). George Herbert Mead and John Dewey were both active in the suffrage movement and members of Hull House. Mead and Addams worked on a number of projects together including pro-labor speeches, peace advocacy and the Progressive Party, and Dewey often assigned Addams books to study in his university courses. Each had an influence of the others works, but Addams was often frustrated with the abstractness of the University of Chicago and preferred to theorize about the interchange between theory and practice while actively practicing at Hull House. During the Progressive Era, pragmatism was associated with professional, academic settings, although part of the premise of pragmatism was practice. This is why many women were not considered to be pragmatist philosophers at the time, but progressive reformers or activists. For example, although John Dewey and Jane Addams were both well known and influential in their time, they have been characterized very differently historically. Dewey was considered to be a great intellectual and Addams was considered to be an activist. However, even Dewey himself denied this characterization and credited Addams with assisting with the development many of his important ideas on education, democracy, and philosophy (Bruce, 2015). Addams work was mapped onto conventional gender understandings: male philosophers such as John Dewey, William James, and George Herbert Mead were regarded as providing original progressive thought while Addams was seen as brilliantly administering their theories (Hamington , 2018). Contemporary feminist pragmatists view this distinction as classic representations of gender archetypes: The man provides wisdom and the woman provides care. Ida Wells-Barnett was an activist for African-American rights and womens rights, she helped found the National Association of Colored Women and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Ritzer, 2011, p. 316). She took an active role by campaigning for change. Beatrice Potter Webb first worked with the poor then used the method of participant observation in her sociological study. She became part of the Fabian Socialists who believed that the way to combat the great social inequalities London was experiencing was by providing accurate information on which a reformist state can be established and make policy (Ritzer, 2011, p. 324). Charles Pierce, John Dewey, and William James are credited with the development of pragmatism into a philosophy, yet only Dewey used pragmatism in practice. Pierce and James theorized and philosophized on the topic and use of pragmatism, but never used it for more than theoretical discussion, as far as I can tell. For example, James delivered a series of lectures in 1906; in his second lecture, James explained the methodology of pragmatism through a story of a squirrel and a man. In short, a squirrel was on a tree and a man was on the opposite end of the tree. The man continued to run round the tree, trying to see the squirrel, but the squirrel continues to run to the opposite side from the man until they are both circling the tree. The question is, does the man go round the squirrel. James determined that whenever you meet a contradiction you must make a distinction; in this case the distinction of the meaning of to go round. Technically, the man did go round the squirrel, since he had circled the tree and the squirrel was on the tree; and technically he did not, as the squirrel always had his back opposite the man and the man never went around the squirrels back. So, the answer depends on the distinction made. He explained, The pragmatic method is primarily a method of settling metaphysical disputes that otherwise might be interminable (Project Gutenberg, 2004). The difference between traditional pragmatist theorists and early female sociologists, omitting Dewey and Mead, was theoretical and metaphysical versus the actual practice of pragmatism for the betterment of society.

My Success As An Engineer - 900 Words

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I didn’t have many friends and this was the way in which I began self-definition. After my parents’ divorce, my sister and I were separated and up until that time in my life, she was the main influence for my personality. While my sister was great, I definitely had something unique about myself. Through excessive puzzle completing, I learned that my skill was problem-solving and that I was only helping the skill to grow through my puzzles. To this day I still find a joy in problem-solving, whichShow MoreRelatedHow The Mind Is An Essential Tool For My Success As An Engineer Essay1273 Words   |  6 Pagesrules in my professional life. Coming from an engineering background where rules and process are defined, from project proposal to pre-design, unto execution an d then to commissioning, each phase requires that strict process or rule must be strictly adhere to. 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Absolutism and Constitutionalism Free Essays

string(208) " an Act of Parliament, it could be dissolved only with the agreement of the members and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and at the end of interregnum in 1660\." 1. Why did monarchs in the late 16th/early 17th centuries need new sources of income? Why did monarchs wish to get their income without the permission of the nobility? 2. Explain the role that each of the following played in the failure of England achieving absolutism, as well as the success of the French: England France  · Religion – Religion  · Parliament/Tradition – Estates General  · Personalities of Leaders – Personalities of Leaders  · Trust of Nobility – Trust of nobility 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Absolutism and Constitutionalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now Henry IV came to the throne and helped to end the French Wars of Religion. After over 30 years of civil war, France was a wreck politically and economically. To set the stage for absolutism, he and his finance minister, the duke of Sully, needed to strengthen certain aspects of the nation and weaken others. Explain where the following fell into their plans, using the terms in parenthesis in your answer:  · power of nobility (parlements)  · increased money for crown (monopolies)  · increased opportunity for economic success (canals, corvee) 4. After Henry IV’s assassination, his 9 year old son Louis XIII became king. Too young to rule, his mother named a brilliant official to serve as his regent. Explain how the following policies show the nature of Richelieu’s â€Å"raison d’etat†:  · Use of intendants  · Actions in the 30 Years War (1618-1648)  · Treatment of nobles  · Treatment of Huguenots 5. Describe the factors that led to the revolt (known as the Fronde) of the French nobility against the young Louis XIV and Cardinal Mazarin (1649-1652). What lesson did the Fronde teach Louis XIV? How did it help prepare the French people for absolutist rule? Helpful Hints for Reading this Section: o The first part of this reading provides an overview of the two systems of government that developed, and offers you hints as to why they developed as they did. Read this carefully so that many of the details listed in future sections will mean more to you. o There is a big difference between the English Parliament and the French parlements (note difference in spellings). The Parliament (-ia) historically had the ability to declare whether taxes were just (fair) or not, and so the kings/queens always had to go before Parliament whenever they needed money. Parliament, located in London, had the ability to make laws. French parlements (-e) were different in that there were many regional parlements as opposed to one central one, and they lacked the ability to make laws. Rather, the French parlements just had the authority to accept or refuse policies proposed by the monarchy. The French also had the Estates General to serve as its legislature, but it was a medieval creation that never really caught on among the French nobles. It could only meet when it was called into session by the king, and that was very rare (met once between 1618 and 1788). Chapter 13 – England 1. The Policy of Circumvention refers to the various English kings’ efforts to go around, or circumvent, Parliament in their gathering of money for the crown. Explain how each of the following was an effort to raise or save money, and why it angered nobles/members of Parliament:  · impositions- These additional custom duties were seen as taxation on imports and exports by Parliament and as requiring parliamentary consent. They angered nobles and members of Parliament because they viewed it as taxation without consent. selling titles of nobility (think supply and demand– why would nobles feel like they each had less power if there were more nobles in the nation? )- people did anything they could to get a higher position so of course they would buy titles of nobility and since there were many nobles now, previous nobles felt less power because there weren’t as many â€Å"important† titles for everyone.  · James I’s role as peacemaker- 2. Summarize the many religious complaints that were raised against King James I. In defending the episcopacy, what did James mean when he retorted â€Å"No bishops, no king (pg. 452). – James viewed the proposal to replace bishops with presbyteries as an attempt to diminish his power in the church so he quoted that. 3. What actions led Parliament force Charles I to accept the Petition of Right? How would Charles I have attempted to defend himself and his actions? What freedoms did the Petition guarantee? -disputes between Parliament and King Charles I over the execution of the Thirty Years’ War, Parliament refused to grant subsidies to support the war effort, leading to Charles gathering â€Å"forced loans† without Parliamentary approval and arbitrarily imprisoning those who refused to pay. The Petition guaranteed restrictions on non-Parliamentary taxation, forced billeting of soldiers, imprisonment without cause, and restricts the use of martial law. 4. Why did Parliament not meet between 1629 and 1640? Describe the circumstances that required their meeting in 1640. – The Triennial Act was intended to prevent kings from ruling without Parliament, as Charles had done between 1629-1640. The act required that Parliament meet for at least a fifty-day session once every three years. 5. Create a timeline using the following terms, explaining what each is and how the terms relate to one-another.  · Short Parliament Scottish Invasion  · Long Parliament’s New Laws (1640-41)  · Grand Remonstrance  · Invasion of Parliament (Roundhead/Cavaliers) 1639-1640 – Scottish Invasion= Breakdown of Charles’s government of Scotland and two attempts to impose his will by force. Scots rose in 1639 against Charles’ introduction of the English Prayer Bo ok into Scotland, the anti-royalist London merchants encouraged the invading Scots to capture Newcastle. This they did in 1640, totally disrupting the export of coal. The Scottish army remained in Newcastle for a year and charged the Corporation a regular fee for billeting its troops. 640 – Short Parliament= sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles 1 of England and called â€Å"short† because it only lasted 3 weeks. He was forced to call the Short Parliament primarily to obtain money to finance his military struggle with Scotland in the Bishops’ War. -Long Parliament= established to pass financial bills. It received its name from the fact that through an Act of Parliament, it could be dissolved only with the agreement of the members and those members did not agree to its dissolution until after the English Civil War and at the end of interregnum in 1660. You read "Absolutism and Constitutionalism" in category "Essay examples" 641 -Grand R emonstrance= a list of grievances presented to King Charles I by English Parliament on 1 December 1641, but passed by the House of Commons on the 22nd of November 1641, during the Long Parliament; it was one of the chief events which were to precipitate the English Civil War. 1642-1651 -Invasion of Parliament (Roundhead/Cavaliers)= was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians (Roundheads) and Royalists (Cavaliers). The first (1642–46) and second (1648–49) civil wars pitted the supporters of King Charles I against the supporters of the Long Parliament, while the third war (1649–51) saw fighting between supporters of King Charles II and supporters of the Rump Parliament. The Civil War ended with the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651. 6. Explain how the â€Å"Rump Parliament† and, more appropriately, Oliver Cromwell, ruled England during the period between Charles I and Charles II. – ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. After the English Civil War and the execution of Charles I, the republic’s existence was initially declared by â€Å"An Act declaring England to be a Commonwealth† adopted by the Rump Parliament, on 19 May 1649. The government took the form of direct personal rule by Oliver Cromwell. Just before and after the execution of King Charles I on 30 January 1649, the Rump passed a number of acts of Parliament creating the legal basis for the republic. Helpful Hints for Reading this Section: o To help remember the order of the English monarchs, try to remember the â€Å"Cromwell Sandwich. As with any good sandwich, it is named after the meat, which goes in the middle. Surrounding the meat is usually CHeese. In the Cromwell Sandwich then, the buns equal James (James I on top, or first, and James II bottom, or last) and the CHeese equals CHarles (Charles I on top of the meat or first, and then Charles II below the meat or second). Thus the order goes Bun (James I), Cheese (Charl es I), Meat (Oliver Cromwell), Cheese (Charles II), and Bun (James II). I don’t know, it helps me. : ) 1. Describe England under the Restoration of the Monarchy (what powers did King have? Religion? )- began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II. 2. Religion and the monarchy became an increasingly touchy subject in Restoration-era England. Discuss how the following acts/events display the conflict developing between monarch and Parliament:  · Clarendon Code= The Clarendon Code was a series of four legal statutes passed between 1661-1665 which effectively re-established the supremacy of the Anglican Church after the interlude of Cromwell’s Commonwealth, and ended toleration for dissenting religions. Declaration of Indulgence= Charles II of England’s attempt to extend religious liberty to Protestant nonconformists and Roman Catholics in his realms, by suspending the execution of the penal laws that punished recusants from the Church of England. Charles issued the Declaration on 15 March 1672.  · Test Act (note who this one was aimed at)= were a series of English penal laws that served as a religious t est for public office and imposed various civil disabilities on Roman Catholics and Nonconformists. The principle was that none but persons professing the Established Church were eligible for public employment, and the severe penalties pronounced against recusants, whether Catholic or Nonconformist, were affirmations of this principle. In practice nonconformists were often exempted from some of these laws through the regular passage of Acts of Indemnity 3. Both politics and religion played a large role in the forced removal of James II as King of England. Summarize the role of each, and note what served as the immediate cause of the Glorious Revolution. . Describe the political philosophy of John Locke found in his Two Treatises on Government. 5. How could one point to the Glorious Revolution and the English Bill of Rights as early successes for the history of Democracy? Helpful Hints for Reading this Section: o When trying to keep straight Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, think about what they stood for in regards to man’s â€Å"natural state. † Hobbes, who believed man was horrible, awful, wicked nasty and cruel, was a â€Å"Hater. † Thus, the first letter of his name and how he felt both match up (Hobbes; Hater). Locke, who said man was naturally good, was all about the Love. Thus, his name and beliefs are also connected by a first-letter principle (Locke; Love). Chapter 13 – France 1. Explain how the theory of Divine Right strengthened Louis XIV’s power as king. How did his saying â€Å"L’etat, c’est moi† reflect the teachings of Bishop Bossuet? – The Divine Right strengthened Louis XIV’s by saying that dictators, nobles, and parliament don’t have power over the people. â€Å"L’etat, c’est moi† means â€Å"I am state† reflected the teaching of Bishop Bossuet by saying God has the almighty power. 2. The Palace at Versailles is an integral part of Louis XIV’s strong reign. Answer the following with regard to life in Versailles:  · To â€Å"domesticate† something means to make it tame, or to train it to be useful to humans. In what ways did Louis XIV â€Å"domesticate the nobility? †  · Why did Louis XIV order nobles to follow such trivial social rules and elaborate social functions at Versailles? Louis ordered nobles to follow trivial social rules and elaborate social functions at Versailles because he wanted them to have less power, so they won’t be a threat to him. What types of people did Louis choose to head his government agencies? Why did he prefer to use them instead of the nobles, as was the case in other times and other countries? Louis XIV replaced the princes who had previously held positions as ministers with new aristocrats who feared him more. This gave Louis XIV, the King of France more power. 3. Explain the ways in which Jean-Baptis te Colbert made France’s economy superior to any other nations’ in the 17th century. How did the marquis of Louvois dramatically increase the effectiveness of France’s military? 4. Louis XIV’s France became so powerful that no one nation could likely stand up and defeat the French. For that reason, Louis chose to involve himself in a series of wars that would eventually break his nation’s finances. Include each of Louis XIV’s war in a timeline that shows the following:  · Years fought  · Reasons for War  · How foreign nations worked to Balance out French power  · Outcomes of War 5. Why did Louis XIV feel it was necessary to revoke the Edict of Nantes? What impact did this move have on his nation? Huguenots as a threat to his power. Huguenots through his reign were hostile to the crown and launched revolts. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes caused large numbers of them to flee to other protestant countries and establish themselves there, weakening the French economy. 6. Explain why the War of Spanish Succession (and the subsequent Treaty of Utrecht) makes a fitting culmination to a. the grand wishes of Louis XIV’s plans for domination of Europe, and; b. the principle of Balance of Power used to stop Louis XIV and contain French power 7. Consider Louis XIV’s Legacy. Create a list of positive and negative aspects of Louis XIV’s legacy. Then, create a thesis statement that evaluates the impact of Louis XIV on French history. Be sure your thesis 1) takes a side/has direction, and 2) does not simply list 3 things Louis did good and/or bad. o Intendants were government officials (royal civil servants,’ according to the text) in charge of oversight duties across all areas of French society. They were responsible for making sure that all tax money collected by regional tax officials went directly to the king (as opposed to some going to the collector’s pocket), and to oversee the training and discipline of the French military. They studied efficiency in production and carried their lessons to emerging French industries. Possibly the most important aspect of the intendants was the fact that they were not of strong noble birth. Richelieu and Louis XIV realized that using nobles to do the most important jobs of government ran counter to the idea of centralizing full power in the hands of the crown. For that reason, the intendants typically came from middle class backgrounds, people who did not possess large lands of their own. Thus, these peoples’ success in life was fully-dependent upon the king. If they became corrupt, another intendant would call them out and they would lose their job and what was likely their only chance to be very successful in life. This created an incredibly driven, obedient and loyal bureaucracy for the French kings. o During the Counter-Reformation, several different groups of Catholics came up with various ways they saw as correct in regards to Catholicism. The Jesuits were likely the most famous and most successful, as they traveled to every coastline and set up schools and monasteries in most all prominent nations. One of the Jesuits’ key messages to people was, â€Å"we can help save you. † By this, the Jesuits promoted the fact that people who were Catholic could be guaranteed salvation, so long as they followed the 7 sacraments and did as their priest told them. Another group, the Jansenists, saw this as untrue. Much like Luther and Calvin, the Jansenists believed that there was nothing people could do on earth to guarantee their salvation. They still believed in following all 7 of the Sacraments and other areas of Catholic doctrine, but they said that getting into heaven had to be a â€Å"gift† of God’s grace. A big religious dispute broke out within the Catholic church, and the influential Jesuits led an out-cry of opposition against the Jansenists. The point the text is trying to make with the Jansenists is that their group offered a form of Catholicism that included aspects of many Protestant religions (role of faith/grace as gift for salvation etc. ), which potentially could have kept French Huguenots (French Protestants) within the Catholic faith and kept them within France. When Louis XIV outlawed Jansenists, he made legal only the strongly anti-Protestant Jesuit Catholics, who began pushing for strong laws against Protestants. How to cite Absolutism and Constitutionalism, Essay examples

Responding Non-Defensively to Criticism free essay sample

Proper communication is an important part of everyday life and crucial to a successful work environment. This is the second article in a three-part series that offers tips to help avoid miscommunication. Results, not intentions, are the true measures of successful criticism. The person hearing the criticism cant hear your intentions. She can hear only your words. Completing a mental checklist before offering constructive criticism can help you match your words to your intentions. Identify your motive before you speak. Reasons for positive criticism include your commitment to and concern for another person and a sense of responsibility to do things correctly. Reasons for negative criticism include poor self-esteem an attempt to build yourself up at someone elses expense or a defense or excuse for your own failures. If we listen to the criticism, however judgmental it sounds, and figure out whether we think it applies to us or not, then we dont have to retaliate immediately and intensify the conflict. We will write a custom essay sample on Responding Non-Defensively to Criticism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Later, during the same conversation, or perhaps even at another time, we can ask the other person (if we are sincerely curious and not point-proving) Do you think your sarcasm (for example) contributed in any way to how I reacted? Or, Do you think you ever (for example) have double standards-or do you think you dont? We can bring up related issues, if we create a transition period and deal first with the one our partner brought up. To remain non-defensive, we must separate how we take accountability ourselves from whether or not the other person chooses to do so at any given moment. When we need to prove our partner is as bad as we are or worse, we are neck-deep in the muck of power struggle. In non-defensive communication, we address Ginger Hansen Page 2 the issue the other person has brought up trusting that we can bring up our own issue later. Doing so can give both partner a hearing aid? Perceptions and self control are key in attempting to respond no defensively to criticism. In accord with our text book this article suggests that we take control of yourself and thick before we speak. The 8 different types of non defensive responses that can be used independently for a single criticism are as follows: 1. Ask for specifics. 2. Guess about the specifics. 3. Paraphrase what the criticizer just stated. 4. Ask the critic what he wants. 5. Inquire about the negative impact of the behavior. 6. Ask if anything else is wrong. 7. Agree with the truth. 8. Agree with the critic’s perception. I feel all the different studies performed on this issue are valid but further studies need to be performed suggesting methods to strengthen our struggles in the ever so difficult task of responding non defensive to criticism and not just automatically retaliating and fueling the fire of criticism. That will only invite an even more in-depth disagreement which can result in a knock down drag out fight. Just stop! Consider the alternative and look at where they are coming from, what has triggered it, and are it even valid.

Banking Industry Analysis

Introduction The central bank has emerged to be the greatest financial institution that controls the economy of any country. The Government does rely on the central bank to foresee the economy on its behalf.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Banking Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among the crucial roles the central bank plays are supervision of other financial institutions, acting as a banker of other banks, acting as a bank of the government, acting as a lender of last resort, liaising with other international bodies among other functions. The way the central bank cooperates with other international bodies including IMF and World Bank enables it to execute its duties. The recent global financial crisis of 2008 had major implications throughout the world. It proved that the issue of economic crisis is no longer a national issue but a global issue and the whole world should work as a team towards providing a safe market for all countries (Samuelson, 2008). Three bankers, heads of the three great Central Banks The subprime mortgage crisis was partly caused by poor policies. The Federal Reserve is responsible for ensuring stability of prices in the U.S. economy. A key question is why the U.S experienced a volatile market in which a stock market collapsed causing uncertainty in the economy and the world. The collapse of the unshakable Lehman brothers and its subsequent effect on other companies compelled the U.S. government to bailout out bankrupt organizations using a package of $ 750 billion. This taught Americans a lesson after loss of jobs and shares. The economic crisis could have been cushioned if the Federal Reserve had put sufficient measures and restrictions in place especially on interest rates. The chairperson of the Federal Reserve, Mr. Ben Bernanke could partly be held accountable for the decline of the economy global because he was in a position to regulate the f inancial industry (Samuelson, 2008). The European Central Bank bears a great responsibility to the rest of the EU community and the world. The bank controls the European states that use the Euro because it ensures euro partners are protected from inflation hence ensuring stable prices. Interest rates are stabilized while inflation rates are put within permissible rates for the wellbeing of the associate members.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The Bank of Japan significantly contributes to the operation of the world economy. Japan is considered to have one of the greatest world economies as it has the greatest technology in the manufacturing sector. Therefore, its central bank policies will have impact on the world economy. Mr. Masaaki Shirakawa would therefore be blamed globally if he comes up with policies that would have negative effects on other economies. The heads of t hese banks are accountable for the performance of the world economy as they make decisions that have global impacts. For instance, the recent G20 meeting unanimously resolved that China should devalue its currency. China had made its goods a bit expensive through appreciation of its currency (Yuan) and since it was a global concern, a mutual understanding had to be made. Generally, economic crisis of 1930s and the worst of 2008 have taught the world that discussions between central banks of great economies are of greater importance to the world economy. The impact that the three people have on the banking industry and the global economy therefore makes them powerful leaders compared to a country’s political leaders (Samuelson, 2008). What made central banks to lower interest rates in 2008/09 recession The reduction of interests by several banks worldwide as recession took place in 2008-2009 was evident that the banks wanted to stimulate their economies through expansionary mo netary policy. Low interest rates attract borrowing that ends up being invested in productive projects that create employment opportunities among other advantages. This has always been a strategy to cushion a country from the shrinking economy. Policy on improving US monetary policy To improve the U.S monetary policy, the Federal Reserve should come up with transparent, complete and timely information for the financial market and public in general. This would ensure that the market is aware of objectives set by the Federal Reserve, implementation and its intended changes in the monetary policy that would have impact on the operation of financial markets in order to avoid such volatility in the financial market (Keleher, 1997). References Keleher, R. (1997). Transparency and Federal Reserve Monetary Policy. Retrieved from: https://www.house.gov/ Samuelson, R. (2008). Economic Triumvirate. Retrieved from: https://www.newsweek.com/newsweek-50-bernanke-trichet-shirakawa-83099Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Banking Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Banking Industry Analysis was written and submitted by user Madison Sargent to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

3 Things to Research Before Any Job Interview

3 Things to Research Before Any Job Interview There are so many job search how-to articles out there telling you to do your homework, but what exactly does that mean? What homework? What research into these companies you’re interviewing with is actually going to help you? What do you actually need to know to prepare for your job interview? What you would be doingThis seems like an obvious place to start, and it is. But the most important research you can do before going in for an interview is to get a really good sense of what your position would entail on a day-to-day basis. What opportunities are there for growth? How long have people typically stayed in that role? What are the primary responsibilities and requisite qualifications? You can contact current employees on LinkedIn or try to chat with friends of friends that work there, if that helps. Or, sign up for the company newsletter. You’ll be much better prepared and your interviewer will be pleased to notice your keen interest.Who the movers and shakers areIt ’s always a shrewd idea to get an idea of the power players at any particular company. Start with the About page and see who the managers and executives are, then commence your Google stalking. You’ll get a great sense of what kind of talent the company values, and how you might fit in.What it’s like to work thereCulture, culture, culture. Everyone is now officially obsessed with this word. But it’s a useful one. After all, you’ll be spending a massive amount of time in this one place. Best to get a good idea of what it’s like. It will save you a lot of adjustment time if you know what to expect going in. You’ll also get a better idea of what unique personality traits and skills or experiences to emphasize during your interview to net the job.

Business history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business history - Essay Example By the time of the first Sino- Japanese war in 1894-1895, her position was greatly weakened. It was not surprising that Japan won the war, having built their strength during the Meiji restoration. The loss to the Japanese marked the shift in the dominating power in Europe and the end of the beginning for the Qinq dynasty. The loss of the war was an indicator of the weaknesses within the dynasty and foreshadowed the Boxer rebellion, the revolution of 1911 and the downfall of the Qing dynasty in 1912 that would make way for the later rise of communism (Akimova 1971). By 1925, the population of china was around 450 million people, most of whom got their livelihood from agriculture. There was a great unevenness in the distribution of the land. More than half the national population was completely landless, working as laborers for the land owners who were made up of only roughly 20 percent of the population. Through out Chinese history, the imperial powers, knowing too well on what side their bread is buttered, have had a stringent control on the economy of the country. Other than land, the imperial powers had control over more than half of china’s biggest industry, textile production together with a third of the railways system whether directly or indirectly. The imperialists also monopolized the shipping on Chinese waters which accounted for 80% of her foreign trade (Blackwell, 2008). Why the revolts by the peasants were always thwarted is because they could not master the forces needed to fight against the imperial powers. This was another ploy by the imperialists to guarantee that there was no real threat because they knew the forces raised by the peasants were puny and could be easily crushed (Blackwell, 2008). Imperial china was slow to pick up what is termed as the capitalist revolution, where individuals work by themselves, to earn their own profit. It was detrimental for china to choose the communist

Managerial Works Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Managerial Works - Essay Example It is difficult for a manager in the current era to function based on pre-planned principles. The challenges and threats arising at the workplace and market are constantly changing. That is why management theories are undergoing rapid changes quite regularly. It is almost impossible for a manager to function as a democrat or an autocrat always. He should evaluate the situations properly before taking any actions. In other words, situational management styles are more common in the organizational world at present. A manager who reacts aggressively on one occasion may react cool on other occasions because of the situational difference he may face. Another myth about the managerial functions is that an effective manager need not have regular duties to perform. Mintzberg questioned this argument also. In his opinion, â€Å"Managerial works include lot of regular works including rituals and ceremonies, negotiations and processing of information† (Mintzberg, 1990, p.165). Informatio n processing is vital for the success of current organizations. Information are processed by the managers rather than the employees. Current managers should give more focus to what is going in the market and what the competitors are doing. Knowing the strategies of opponents or competitors are important for an organization to take precautionary actions. For example, while most of the mobile phone manufactures concentrated in adding more features to their existing products, Apple Inc thought differently and introduced an entirely new product (iPhone) in the market at the beginning of 21 st century. The rest is history. Nokia, the leader in mobile phone industry has lost its place and market share they are currently struggling for... This paper stresses that the difference major between a good manager and an excellent manager will be in their ability to control problems. Managers with ex-ante control can be termed as excellent managers whereas managers with concurrent control can be labeled as good managers. Excellent managers have the ability to forecast the problem before it actually occurs. Such abilities will help excellent managers to take remedial actions well before the occurrence of the problems. On the other hand, good managers operate only at the time of the occurrence of the problem. This report makes a conclusion that management is not a science or art. It is much more than that. It is a mixture of scientific principles along with psychological principles. It is the duty of the manager to know the needs of the employees as well as the needs of the organization. A successful manager will be able to blend these things together so that both the organization and the employees will be happy. On many occasions, managers work on intuitions rather than principles because of the complex nature of managing modern day organizations. Written principles or the theories learned from academics may not help managers always to solve problems. Creativity, decision making and problem solving skills are important for a manager rather than academic qualifications. Current managers are acting as leaders rather than managers. In short, managerial functions have changed a lot in recent past because of the huge changes taking place in the organizational world.

I set about learning Welsh, in order to be able to return to the true Essay

I set about learning Welsh, in order to be able to return to the true Wales of my imagination (R.S Thomas). How are questions of language, place and national identity inter-related in literary texts - Essay Example Moreover, he argues that ‘nationalism is an ideological movement for attaining and maintaining the autonomy, unity and identity of a nation’2. It is this concept of ‘sameness’ and belonging which unifies us individuals to have a sense of pride attached to our country. This issue of national identity is one which is distinct within Welsh Anglo-Saxon writer R.S. Thomas’ Collected Poetry and Irish writer Roddy Doyle’s Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. It is interesting to compare the confused identity of Thomas, who was born in Cardiff yet spoke English as a child, to a dominant Irish figure such as Doyle who was born and bred in Ireland, and hence feels justified in glorifying his own country. He does this by using Gaelic phrases in order to present it in a more idealised category compared to the other cultures. Doyle too betrays anguish in his own culture as he presents the underlying woes within an Irish household being those of violence which was common in the 1960’s when the book was written. Nevertheless, one notes a sense of pride and belonging in Doyle, whereas Thomas is still searching in order â€Å"to be able to return to the true Wales of my imagination†3. In this essay, I will explore issues of language, place and national identity that are manifest within Thomas’ Collected poems and Roddy Doyle’s Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. R.S. Thomas focuses on Wales as his own national identity. For example, in A Welsh Testament, he writes, ‘All right, I was Welsh. Does it matter? I spoke the tongue that was passed on to me in the place I happened to be’4. We find Thomas telling us that although he speaks English, he is unable to speak his ‘mother tongue’, which he believes to be Welsh. There is a defensive hue in his words, as though he is trying to justify his inability to speak their language. This speaks of an anguish in him resulting from not having a full sense of belonging. In the poem

Italian Neorealism In Bicycle Thieves

Italian Neorealism In Bicycle Thieves It is evident that Italian Neorealism and the life of post-war shaped DeSisas film Bicycle Thieves (1948). However, with much debate, one can argue that the sentimental nature of the film overwhelms the films potential to make a powerful political statement. With reference to important scenes from the film, Italian neorealist principles focused on; location, lighting, typage, dà ©cor, loose camera shots, eye-level angles, invincible editing and reportage, as well as and the usage of sentiment One can justifiably claim that the powerful political statement is not overwhelmed by sentiment, and in fact enhances the message the film aims to give off. The uniqueness of the Italian works, vise-a-visa other relevant cineamas, lies in their stylistic organization of elements of apparent rawness, their emotional intensity, and their focus on current political and social problems. (P. Adams Sitney, 1995) Thus, one is able to identify Italian Neorealism as the harmonizing of sentiment (emotional intensity) and awareness of political and social problems through Neorealist principles, which inevitably feeds off from an happening that affected the world, and specifically as we see in the history influence in this film; Italy. This change in society brought about characteristics and principles which became noticeable in cinema during this time period. These principles not only molded the film Bicycle Thieves, but were used to bring about a message to the audience. A message which was not overwhelmed by emotional rawness but a message of a social movement awareness reflected through cinema. Neorealism was not only what I came to see as a propaganda device, but an influential and significant movement in film history, which occurred in Italy at the ending of World War II. (John Stubbs, 2010: pg 1) Italy moved from fascism and dictatorship, whereby much was revolved around a single-party position as one can clearly see in the Holocaust, to an equal and democratic society. Here we see this so effectively reflected through Bicycle Thieves when converging neorealist principles, the idea of sentiment to enhance the political statement and the apparent rawness which adds power to the social conditions through the overall statement to justifiably prove that sentiment was not a downfall to DeSicas focus. The filmmakers and directors clearly believed they had an ethical task to use cinema and film as a means to promote the social amendment that had just occurred post the war. Ideally, it wasnt so much about the storyline of the film and its characters, but more about making the public aware of the difficulties that working people had to face. Here we see a Marxist approach on the rebuilding of Italy whereby unlike the mythology of Classic Hollywood, no single person can change the world and the ultimate society would inevitably be a classless society, as Leo Tolstroy (1882) successfully explains; Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself, for when everyone changes themselves, the world will change.   Neorealisms origin of strength lies in the documentary excellence which is used to portray the realism of the story as realism can only occupy in art a dialectal position. (Andrà © Bazin, 1971) One might speculate what Bicycle Thieves would be like in colour, however the black and white aspect highlights the tone of the film being a bleak, depressing emotion contrary to the usage of colour which would highlight liveliness and energy and go against the tone of the film. Black and white not only attaches a emotion, but Thus, clearly showing that the sentiment brings about the tone of the film which enhances the message of presenting the gloomy conditions of poverty in post-war Italy. Andre Bazin (1971: 20) describes this through referring to the term reconstituted reportage. Reconstituted reportage is seen through how the every day events are shown, and the daily happenings which would have and did happen in Italy at that period of time. This adds, as discussed above, far more truth to the film and is not the making of a documentary but rather shown and seen in a documentary-type way through what Bazin (1971) refers to as a journalistic style. Bicycle Thieves has gives off a documentary experience to the audience which could not be removed from the script without thereby eliminating the whole social setting into which its roots are so deeply sunk (Bazin, 1971: 20). Bazin (1971) points out that realism and truth in film is a product of artifice. Truth is an important principle of neorealism, as truth brings realism; the more believable the film is to the audience, the more truthful it is thus, it is seen as realistic. We see this through DeSicas film techniques extensively set out to enhance the opportunity for the audience to live in the story. The real location shooting aids far more freedom and looseness for mise-en-scene, to such an extend that the camera-man is unsure what to look for. An example from the film can be seen when Antonio and Bruno walk away from a car in the street, meander in the streets for a bit heading in the same direction and then suddenly they both go the opposite way. As a viewer, the focus of the camera comes across somewhat as uncertain as the viewer experiences when watching a film for the first time. Here we see how such a camera technique can enhance realism and the opportunity for the audience to experience it. Another technique which is so different to Eisensteins Battleships Potempkin (1925) is that montage is avoided due to jump cutting, removing a sense of truth and realism, with noting that montage is, if anything, modifies realism. This can be seen through the truth of the characters the aesthetics of realism; lighting, location, dà ©cor, camera shots, camera angles and editing. This not only brings about authenticity but also creates a much stronger message for the audience. In Bicycle Thieves, there is a correlation between truth and sentiment, and truth and the political statement Which are justifiably both used in this film without over powering one another (balance) in order to positively enhance the films message. Inevitably, in order for a director to get an actual event (post-war) understood by his audience truth and realism is the most effective approach. Neorealism focuses on the characters and themes without much focus on the plot itself as the plot is seen to warp the truth about people if focus is too much on the execution statement and not the input which is the reasoning for the statement and the very focal point the viewers need exposure to (John Stubbs, 2010: pg 4) Thus, the film wouldve not only been monotonous if there was no sentiment (due to there not being enough material if there was no storyline about characters and a central theme), but to know and understand a situation, one must be put in a stance where one has the opportunity of learning a huge amount about the faith and frustrations of a human being. Equally, a monotonous film due to no sentiment from characters and a central theme, is inevitably a failed film. Through this, neorealists are able to portray truth to a greater extend through bringing about simplicity yet a means of understanding the real life through everyday characters and a central theme (getting t he bicycle back); a main appeal in films even today. Likewise, without sentiment, we wouldnt be exposed to a equilibrium between objective shots of each of the characters and subjective shots showing the audience the characters point-of-view in the social and political conditions they are experiencing. One can also agree that the sentiment aids the whole use of Neorealism principles. Without characters, loose shots wouldnt be blatant to the audience (also in comparison to the few novelty used close-up shots) as loose shots show freedom, which thus emphasizes truth and realism. The storyline being as simple as the search for a bicycle, doesnt take the political statement too far away from the message. Likewise, the actual characters in the film are everyday normal people. We can see this through the workman being found in the factory, the child being found wondering around the streets and the wife being found through her writing. (Andre Bazin, 1971) This is known as Typage whereby there is no star system which immediately creates a far more realistic/truth approach and feel. Similarly, the locations and dà ©cor are real and not built-up or made-up, the lighting is natural which attempts to present reality as it is, the editing is invincible which enhances truth and the camera is free which is unrestricted and brings about a far more convincing viewing. Neorealists not only conformed to such techniques for that these techniques best suited execution of maximum realism in cinema, but is a cinema movement which brought about much rebellion too. Italian Neorealism had already provided a cinematic model for rebellion, both against the conventions imposed by the political and social states ideology (Mark Mesaros, 2010) and past cinema movements such as the success seen in montage in German Expressionism. With the storyline of the characters and the truth which is by principle brought about, I fully agree that it brings sentiment to the screens. However, it puts you (the audience) in a far more heart-felt and understanding position which I believe brings about the political statement in a far more expressive way, rather than a theoretical and cold approach. And as some agree, its not even sentimental its just painful. (The Internet Movie Database, 2010: retrieved 28 April) Instead of a cold theoretical approach which would entail no sentiment, we are introduced to a family who are ordinary and by no means are glamorous heros which is commonly seen in Classical Hollywood. Quite frankly, if we werent introduced to characters and the sentiment they bring, which play a role in this film, I personally dont think much of a political statement would be made as one needs interest to grasp a statement. As we see in Classic Hollywood, the emotional character identification influences the message of the film and is a central characteristic, contrary to Italian Neorealism where characters are everyday individuals who are put in a equal light which intention, also enhances the message this movement wishes to portray. The character of Ricci is the focus of the film, however we are not interested in him but rather what will happen next in the films sequence of events. And even though characters bring about sentiment and the viewer starts becoming attached to the ro le the characters plays, in Bicycle Thieves, Bruno the son unsentimentally still criticizes and looks down on his father. Noticeably very different to what we see in Classic Hollywood. In response to the representation of the political statement made in this film, we are clearly able to see this in noticeable scenes in the film. In the first scene, the camera follows Ricci from the unemployment gathering to his wife where the housing project is in the background, which is fully exhibited to the viewer showing the bleak conditions. We see the men and woman arguing about employment and shortage of water. This emphasis on long and medium shots which appeals to the truth in the film enhances the political message due to the events getting exhibited on a whole Whereas close up would bring more sentiment. Long and medium shots show the actor loosely framed in his environment and allow the viewer opportunity to look around in that environment with the added enhancement of the shots taken at eye level. As well as minimized jumps and shifts through editing to bring more real life to the cinema audience. Thus we see here that sentiment is not overwhelming the political statement, but rather the political statement is actually taking dominance in the shots. Of course DeSica did move in for close-up shots every now and then which becomes a novelty and is in effect very strong and holds the base to string along the story of the characters and the central object, which is needed to (as mentioned earlier) keep the audience interested and not bored. The central object being the bicycle. They are everywhere and yet treasured, and the shortcoming of the Ricci familys position is enforced when Antonios bicycle is stolen. Here, the object brings sentiment to enforce the political statement, and what I find even more interesting is how the title changed from Bicycle Thief to Bicycle Thieves as ultimately it becomes a vicious cycle of survival as one has to steal their own bicycle back from the thief, therefore becoming a thief resulting in thieves. This therefore constitutes to the message of the film, for the continuous battle of the haves and have-nots. Through the character of Antonio, it is the faith that drives him and allows him follow within his quest to find his stolen bicycle. Although DeSicas bleak realism of the post-war gives purpose to the central theme of the film, it is ultimately the conflict of human-optimism which gives the film and its political statement its power and without human sentiment, one can argue that the film would not produce affective power. If we look at three scenes, we are able to see how sentiment brings power to the political statement. In one scene we see Antonio and Maria trade in their bed linen. The camera moves away from them (long shot) and we see the heaps of bed-linen behind the counter-table, a tacit bleak reminder of the extensive nature of unemployment while recognizing its effect on the heart of families household lives. Again we see how realistic the lighting is and how the framing is loose to incorporate the environmental conditions to promote the political message. In another scene we see Ricci reporting his bicycle stolen and is directed by the policeman to the piles of alike reported cases. His account and circumstances are not singular, and we see here how it is not only this family that is going through this but also a lot of people. (Note the title: Thieves and not Thief) Thus portraying the political message that goes beyond this familys personal sentiment. Here we are also shown how humanitarianism prohibited Ricci from pressing official charges anti the thief, and the same moral fiber that spared him after he was caught stealing a bicycle. He did what the thief did to him. Such a film was essential in Italy as through this family we have the opportunity of being a bystander to the brutality of a civil war amoungst fascists and its on going of killing and reprisals through seeing how this effects one, and how not only effecting this family but many others. Italy in post-war was in need of healing and compassion even at the cost of a perceived injustice. (Paul Baxa, 2011) Healing does not come from the government and leaders of the country, but comes from within the everyday man on the streets you and me. Thus, from the Riccis, those being affected by the war and living within such conditions as well as the audience viewing this film who can in many ways relate. In another scene, arguably the most sentimental scene yet what I believe portrays the political message more powerfully than any other- we see the father and sons relationship come to a mend. It is understood with looking into the Italian family lifestyle, that the father and sons relationship is by far the strongest and most special. Little Brunos appearance when taking his fathers hand in the last scene is merely a realistic point of life and is a means of facing life with your father an important part in Italian culture. With Bruno being the witness of the tragedy and finally coming to realize his father is not a hero after all (contrary to Classic Hollywood), much like the audience being a witness too, this scene gives off a sense of aggravation, mortification, paradox and most of all acceptance to survival. These sentimental feelings therefore expresses the political statement as this ending of when the father and son take hands, expresses manhood and the hardship of survival one needs to go through with still looking for a sense of acceptance. Bazin (1971) explains this father/son scene as reaching puberty. Up to that moment the man has been like a god to his son and their relations came under the heading of admiration. By the fathers actions of becoming a thief, the father has in doing so compromised all heroism that his son had seen in him. However, this scene is seen as acceptance not only in survival, but also acceptance of ones father and supposed role model. He will love him henceforth as a human being, shame and all. (Bazin, 1971: pg 54) This scene inevitabely becomes a deceptive one, as the truth and reality of this acceptance and now found happiness through the fathers wrong doings, depends all on the central object the bicycle. Bicycle Thieves therefore inevitably portrayed the political statement through expressing the social conditions without expressing solutions. One might argue that this is a downfall, however at this moment in time solutions were not theoretical and if healing was going to occur it was going to have to come from the people. Thus, this film is inevitably awareness that needs to be found in each individual, which will create its own solution. Much like the theme and characters inevitably creating a plot on its own in Neorealism. The neorealist approach doesnt have an inbuilt political statement solution, as the most widespread attribute of neorealism is; on location shooting and the feeling of truth. (John Stubbs, 2010) Exactly what Bicycle Thieves so effectively does. One must also remember when viewing this film in the 21st century that twenty-five percent of the Italian workforce was unemployed at the time (William Heuvel, 2008) and if you were employed, getting to work was with th e use of a bicycle. The object of the bicycle thus symbolized survival. In conclusion, one can therefore justifiably argue that the sentimental nature of Bicycle Thieves does not overwhelm the political statement but essentially enhances it. If the political statement made in the film was to feed off a means of a solution, and the solution could only be found in the common individual like the Riccis family then one needs to understand the individuals situation as well as have an opportunity to walk in their shoes. Through sentiment that is not overly used in this film, one can see the hardship for survival through the story of these characters in order to become aware, as well as stay intrigued. Without focalizing power of the central character but rather the political statement through the characters, this film uses The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic. (Joseph Stalin, 1953) to its advantage by effectively showing the tragedy of individuals with indication to the masses statistic through apparent rawness and emotional intensity focused on such political and social problems. (P. Adams Sitney, 1995)

Want To Be A Canadian? :: essays research papers

Want to be a Canadian? I have been in Vancouver for one and half year, so I have seen many Canadians. Since I was asked to write something based on my experience in Vancouver, I am going to tell you some tips to be a Canadian, if you'd like to. Eh: Put "eh " at the end of sentences, then you will sound like a Canadian no matter how a strong accent you have. However, do not overuse it, because it is sometimes irritating if you do so. An umbrella: Do not use an umbrella. Carrying an umbrella is not cool. Get some rain jacket, especially the one with a hood. Do not walk fast in the rain. You should put your hood or cap on and walk as if it was not raining and you did not care the rain. More importantly do not forget to use a nice smell shampoo. When your hair gets a little wet, it'll release good smell. Mountain Equipment Coop: Do you know where you should get your rain jacket? "Mountain Equipment Coop" is where you should go. Look at our all teacher's rain jackets. Do you see any Mountain Equipment Coop jackets? Yeah, everyone is wearing them. The place to go : If you are a teenager, you should go to Lonsdale Quay on Weekend nights. Many North Van teenagers get together but I don't know what they are doing at there. Americans : I guess you know how you should deal with them. Try not to like them and complain a little bit about them. University & College : Change your major at least 3 times. Hockey : watch it and be able to name at lease three Canucks players. Coffee : Have some coffee in the morning at school or at work and you know from where. Summer : If it's a sunny day, go to a beach and get some suntain. Remember do not get a good suntain. Get some pinky one. Dinner : Have dinner at 6:00. Do not be surprised even if burgers are served. Burger : Use your B.B.Q.stove outside to grill the burger, I know it'll take more time than just using stove in the kitchen. Movie : Go to watch a movie on Tuesdays and take some food with you. It's expensive in the theatres. Clothing : Wear shorts in winter. Holloween : Go out at Holloween night and threaten lilltle kids to get