Kepler Mission

What is the Kepler mission? Many people don’t even know what is going on here on earth let alone in space. The Kepler mission is searching the skies for planets that are the same size as earth and worlds that could possibly similar to our own (Site 1). The Kepler spacecraft has found over 750 candidates for extra solar planets and that is just from data collected in the first 43 days of the spacecraft's observations. This is the biggest release of candidate planets that has ever happened.This is amazing; just imagine if there is that many other planets like earth with human life on it. The Kepler team has found so many candidates, they are sharing. They will keep the top 400 candidates to verify and confirm with observations using other telescopes with observations done by Kepler team members (Site 2). Us as human being can only think and wonder if there is life outside of this planet. The Kepler mission is our chance to find out. Kepler launched on March 6, 2009, and has been on the hunt for exoplanets (Site 2).The Kepler instrument is a specially designed 0. 95-meter diameter telescope called a photometer or light meter. It has a very large field of view for an astronomical telescope 105 square degrees, which is comparable to the area of your hand held at arm's length. The fields of view of most telescopes are less than one square degree. Kepler needs the large field of view in order to observe the large number of stars. It stares at the same star field for the entire mission and continuously and simultaneously monitors the brightness’s of more than 100,000 stars for at least 3. years, the initial length of the mission, which can be extended (Site 1). Extending the mission beyond three and one half years provides for improving the signal to noise by combining more transits to permit detection of smaller planets. Another reason why extending the mission is good is to find planets in orbits with larger periods. Also to find planets around stars th at are noisier either due to being fainter or having more variability The scientific objective of the Kepler Mission is to explore the structure and diversity of planetary systems.This is achieved by surveying a large sample of stars to determine the abundance of terrestrial and larger planets in or near the habitable zone of a wide variety of stars. Another objective is to determine the distribution of sizes and shapes of the orbits of these planets. Estimate how many planets there are in multiple-star systems. Determine the variety of orbit sizes and planet reflectivity’s, sizes, masses and densities of short-period giant planets. Also to identify additional members of each discovered planetary system using other techniques; and determine the properties of those stars that harbor planetary systems (Site 1).The Kepler Mission also supports the objectives of future NASA Origins theme missions Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) and Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) by identifyin g the common stellar characteristics of host stars for future planet searches, defining the volume of space needed for the search and allowing SIM to target systems already known to have terrestrial planet (Site 1). The Kepler mission has discovered a system of two Saturn size planets with perhaps a third planet that is only 1. 5 times the radius of Earth.While the news of this discovery is tempered somewhat with the announcement by a team from the European Southern Observatory of a system with five confirmed Neptune-sized planets and perhaps two additional smaller planets, both discoveries highlight that the spacecraft and techniques astronomers are using to find exoplanets are getting the desired results, and excitingly exoplanet research now includes the study of multiplanet systems. This discovery is the first time multiple planets were found by looking at transit time variations, which can provide more information about planets, such as their masses (Site 2).NASA held a press c onference to discuss early science results of the Kepler Mission on August 6, 2009. At this press conference, it was revealed that Kepler has confirmed the existence of the previously-known transiting exoplanet HAT-P-7b, and is functioning well enough to discover Earth-size planets. Since Kepler's detection of planets depends on seeing very small changes in brightness, stars that vary in brightness all by themselves are not useful in this search. From the first few months of data, Kepler scientists have determined that about 7500 stars from the initial target list are such variable stars.These were dropped from the target list and will be replaced by new candidates. On November 4, 2009, the Kepler project publicly released the light curves of the dropped stars. Ground-based follow-up studies of the first six weeks of data, reveal five previously unknown planets, all very close to their stars, one (Kepler-4b) slightly larger than Neptune and four (Kepler-5b, 6b, 7b, and 8b) larger th an Jupiter, including one (Kepler-7b), that is one of the least dense planets found yet.Another discovery, not yet understood, are at least two objects that are the size of planets, but hotter than their stars (Site 2). In conclusion, the Kepler mission I believe is the first of its kind that is actually working. The significance of the Kepler mission is very important. Kepler will monitor 100,000 stars similar to our sun for four years. The results will be extremely important either way. If Kepler detects many habitable, Earth-size planets, it could mean the universe is full of life. Kepler would then be a stepping stone to the next extensive search for habitable planets and life, the Terrestrial Planet Finder (Site 3). If nothing is found, it may mean we're alone in the galaxy.Bibliography Site 1:â€Å"Kepler. † Nasa. Ames Research Center, Web. 28 Nov. 2010. . Site 2: â€Å"Kepler Mission. † UniverseToday. com. 26 Aug. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. . Site 3: â€Å"Discov ery Program. † NASA. 16 Feb. 2010. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. .

Philosophy Plato Essay

For Plato, just like for Socrates, Philosophy was ; A way of life not just a specialised and technical activity in about 387 BC, he attended The Academy  ­ lasted for a 1000 yrs. Socrates was only interested in  ­ ethics. While Plato was interested in  ­ ethics, metaphysics, politics, aesthetics, Mathematics Plato’s Allegory (story in which there is a fact & a true story) of the Cave Plato asks ; â€Å"What would happen if one of these prisoners were released from his chains, were forced to stand up, turn around (conversion) and walk with his eyes lifted up towards the light? † Eventually, he would be able to see the real object for and in itself ;  ­Lifting his eyes upward, he would find it easier to look at the stars at night Finally, he would look right at the SUN in its Natural position in the sky and ;  ­ Not at its Reflections from or through anything else How would the liberated prisoner feel about his previous life in the cave?  ­ He would recall what his fellow prisoners and himself took to be Wisdom.  ­ He would recall how they used to give prizes to the one who had the sharpest eye for assign shadows and the best memory for the order in which the shadows followed each other. â€Å"If they could lay hands on the man who was trying to set them free and lead them up, they would kill him†. The implications of the Allegory ; Many people dwell in the Darkness of the cave †¦ They have oriented their thoughts around the blurred world of Shadows †¦ Education  ­ leads people out of the cave of Darkness into the world of light. (Education means  ­ to bring out. (of the cave) ). Just as the prisoner had to turn his Whole Body around so that his eyes could see the light instead of the darkness. It is also necessary for the entire should to turn away from the deceptive world of change and appetite that causes blindness in the should. Education according to Plato is ; A matter of Conversion  ­ A complete turning around from the world of Appearance to the world of reality. † The conversion of the soul is not to put the power of sight in the soul’s eye, which already has it, but to insure that, instead of looking in the wrong direction, it is turned the way it ought to be†. Plato’s rejection for the sophist’ skepticism ; The dark world of the cave ( particular  ­ many  ­ change  ­ finite) , Vs the bright world of light ( light is knowledge for plato  ­ sun  ­ absolute  ­ one  ­ permanent / changeless  ­ infinity). Dramatic contrast between; 1) shadows > 2) reflections > 3) The actual objects (ultimate knowledge) (process of education ^). With the Sophists, Plato and Socrates agree that knowledge derived from Sense experience is Relative, but he maintains that ; Not all knowledge is relative  ­ therefore, Absolutism Plato’s Divided Line ; (top 2  ­ The world of thought  ­ changeless) (bottom 2  ­ The world of Opinion  ­ change) (The line that divides every stage is not equal, meaning that it is more difficult to reach from level 3 to level 4 than from level 1 to level 2). (Outside the Cave) (Objects of knowledge).

Computers and Education Essay

Nowadays, it is generally believed that computers are essential for our modern education. They are indispensable studying tool that makes it easier for many people to learn subjects from mathematics to language skills. However, there are some aspects of a good education that cannot be taught using computers. Computers play a significant role in all fields of modern society. They are widely used by banks for account management and by stores for keeping records of sales and inventory. Computers are also necessary for interpreting data from a patient’s history and determining diagnosis. Moreover, computers make an important contribution to the education. They are widely used by school and university students and by students who study at home. Computers may be very helpful for learning most subjects. Some of those subjects are mathematics, languages, information technology that cannot be taught without computer, and so on. Computers are capable of storing and combining information in a way that makes is very simple to access and use. Computers simplify students studying by providing them with easy typing software, many useful exercises. In addition, they can make it easier for teachers to assess the students and mark their work. However, there are some features that cannot be taught by using computers. For example, it seems obvious that the subject like singing would be virtually impossible to learn without teacher’s involvement. Furthermore, while computers can be used by students for learning languages, they cannot provide them with an adequate feedback on their pronunciation or writing skills. Learning such subjects like chemistry and physics would be extremely difficult or sometimes even dangerous without teacher’s supervision while having done various experiments. In conclusion, it is important to point out that computers can be beneficial  for educational purposes and they can help students with learning most of the subjects. Despite this in some cases, it is also necessary to engage teacher to make the education more effective and complete. Teacher would also be helpful for pupils as he or she could answer their questions, provide them with a wide range of examples and give them more exercises on particular matters students have difficulties with.

MANAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND DECISIONS Essay - 1

MANAGING FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND DECISIONS - Essay Example ems the most secured form of raising enough money to start the business, but in case the price of the assets suddenly drops, it may be practically impossible to get enough capital for the organization. Banks, on the other hand, expects that some strict requirements are fulfilled before they could award any loans (Mentre 1984). It is not always possible to secure a loan from banks because the requirements are often many. Therefore, it is better to rely on the sale of assets to raise the needed capital for the commencement of the organization. The assets that would be sold to obtain this capital include a block of flat and a six-month-old salon car. The organization has a limited number of daily operations being a trading one and small-scale in nature. The major activities involve purchasing, stockpiling and distributing orders to customers. The organization is not involved in price control and does not engage in market manipulation as would a big trading company. Therefore, choosing to finance the organization using the capital raised through the sale of personal assets appears to be safe and would not threaten business continuity (Doughty 2000). The fact is that whenever banks refuse to grant loan applications, the business activities at the organization would be slow down. No entrepreneur that is profit-oriented would want his/her business enter a phase of financial dryness: a critical condition when it would be seriously difficult to obtain the necessary funds to keep operating. Relying on the capital raised from personal assets would solve this unique problem. Task 4 (The Cost of Finance): The cost of finance for the sales of my asset is, in principle, the total expenses made in the course of selling them. Below is the exact cost of finance that came up during the selling processes: The cost of finance shown above is moderate compared with the cost I would have paid to obtain similar amount of loan from a bank or other financial institutions. Even though the

Toll Holdings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Toll Holdings - Essay Example Toll manages a holding company’s administrative affairs and offers management services to its subsidiaries. The company also assists the board with financial support and control services. The major function of Toll Holdings is to supervise the whole group and its legal structure, financial and equity structures, and tax planning activities. In addition, the organization also deals with other activities including policy making, strategic planning, and marketing, recruiting personnel for senior management positions, approving investment proposals and budgets, and making ongoing evaluation of the group’s overall performance. Toll Holdings is one of the leading providers of integrated logistics services in the Asian region. Some of the principle activities of the company include freight forwarding services, temperature controlled transport service, container storage, warehousing and distribution, vehicle transport and distribution, wharf cartage, large scale liquid transpor tation, and contract distribution services (Toll Holdings Limited). Toll was founded by Albert Toll in Newcastle in 1888. For a long period after the foundation, the company mainly engaged in the transport of goods, especially coal, using horse and cart. Toll was sold to National Mineral Limited following the death of its founder, Albert Toll. Over the 1960, the company transported goods for diversified mining and manufacturing activities and hence the organization became the part of Peko Wallsend Group (Bidder’s statement). After two decades, the company was renamed as Toll Transport in 1985. In the next year, a management buyout team under the leadership of Paul Little and Peter Rowsthorn took over the Toll Transport. This management buyout can be considered as a milestone in the corporate history of Toll Holdings because the company grew dramatically since this buyout. Many of the innovative ideas put forward by Little and Rowsthorn benefited Toll to obtain a competitive edge

Horrible and Strange Practice Under the Context of Our Modern Culture Essay

Horrible and Strange Practice Under the Context of Our Modern Culture - Essay Example Initially, it would seem that suttee is such a horrible and strange practice if perceived under the context of our modern culture. However, the essence of this act bears such a close resemblance to our own values, particularly those pertaining to the level of love and piety of husbands and wives. Both cultures acknowledge the sacred union and celebrate the special bonding of couples. As mentioned, those people believe that suttee purged a couple of all accumulated sins, warranted salvation and guaranteed an afterlife reunion. In our modern culture, people believe that husbands and wives should work together to achieve their familial goals as well as enrich their spirituality. It is in this way that values of the modern and archaic cultures converge. It is in the â€Å"Til-Death-Do-Us-Part† concept that the two cultures differ. We believe that couples, those who enter into marriage at least, should stay together in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. However, in the e vent that one of them dies, the marriage ties are severed. This means the church and the state grant the other the freedom to marry again. On the contrary, selected Hindu cultures practising suttee deem that the union of a husband and a wife does not end in death (of the man) and goes beyond the present life. This stems from the Hindu belief of the after-life. On the given scale, I believe that I fall on 3. I think that diversity of cultures should be respected. People should show consideration for the culture and customs of others. This is tantamount to upholding their inherent right as a people to practice their customs and nourish their culture no matter how different these are from our own.

Medicalization of Deviance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Medicalization of Deviance - Essay Example One of the main reasons there has been a much stronger focus on medicalizing deviance is because the offenders who are in this category need a specific type of help to refrain them from continuing to break the law and behaving outside of what is considered to be the social norm. Without medical intervention their behavior is uncontrollable and will continue to escalate unless they are placed on medication to control their specific cognitive problems. So, based on this assumption, when the terminology of medicalization is placed with deviance or deviant behavior it is understood that what is actually being implied is that those of deviant character need specialized medical treatment such as certain neuro-chemical stabilizers to control their behaviors. Sociologists claim that by defining deviance in this way it will allow for an ability to be able to maintain order far better in societies than simply following a traditional pattern of law and placing all of those of a disorderly character in a certain legal framework without proper labeling of the adversity being given. Furthermore, when certain criminal activities are taken out of the main legal framework and analyzed it will be perceivable that for some there are medical reasons for their behavior while for others they simply are prone to violent actions and engage in crime because they want too and for no other reason. For other's it is quite the opposite, which is why there is a strong point for labeling some offenders under medical deviance. Conrad (1992, pg. 210) points out that it was in the mid 1970's when the concept of medicalization and activities of a deviant background were first were introduced, although there was not much headway in labeling offenders into this grou p at that time. However, now in present times the terminology has become quite common and even more pronounced, gaining precedence in claiming that many crimes have a medical reason and therefore claiming medicalizing many deviant behaviors is not only arbitrarily conceivable, but it is quite logical to do. In Conrad's article (1992) there is an emphasis on the fact that medicine can control deviant actions and many characteristics of it, which has been hinted at in this research. By applying the proper treatment regimen to those offenders who are engaging in deviant acts, the chemicals that are not reacting correctly in the brain can be adjusted by various pharmaceutical prescriptions. By counseling and regulating the medications, psychologists can monitor these previous offenders and almost guarantee that their actions won't be repeated as long as they stay on the treatment prescribed to them. The definition of medicalization in itself shows, "it is a process where more and more of everyday life has come under medical dominion, influence, and supervision" (Conrad 1992, pg.210). Of course, as this research is showing even legal problems in society are now beginning to be associated with medicine and it's treatments to maintain control. To extend this reasoning further, many psychiatrists, sociologists, and psychologists believe that a person who is committing deviant

Forest Industry Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Forest Industry - Case Study Example Ontario is referred to as the 'crown' of forests as ninety percent of the forested lands in Canada fall under the province of Ontario. There are a plenty of questions that come to the mind when trying to understand the dynamics of the forest industry and the roles played by different people who are actually part of the system. Ontario's forest industry has been in the news in recent months as government and industry struggle to address economic challenges and redefine the future of the industry.' The rising Canadian dollar, the softwood lumber dispute, energy prices, outside competition, overcapacity and wood supply issues have all been cited as contributing factors effecting Ontario's struggling forest industry. In response, the Ontario government is considering a package tomorrow to support this vital industry.' Noticeably absent from the debate is a recognition of environmental performance as a key indicator of long-term success and sustainability.'' The ministry of natural resources says that it is doing everything under its jurisdiction to see to it that there is no further damage of the forests but the critics reject this. As a global citizen and a person who has been following up with this issue closely, I can definitely say that the Government has not being doing enough to protect the forests in the area and has been consistently bowing to the pressure by various industries indulging in the logging process in the area. What kinds of changes are needed in the present formulation of laws and policies to ensure sustainability of the forests' These are some of the questions I've attempted to answer through this dissertation. Economic Sustainability Ontario's forest industry has been steadily consolidating over the past 15 yrs. In the year 1991, 24 companies were responsible for processing 90 percent of the wood that was harvested. In the year 2004, 8 companies were found to process the same amount of wood that was being processed by the 24 companies in the year 2004. On the wood supply front, the government was aware of the situation that a 20 year old low in the dip of the supply of the wood was looming largely over Ontario. Even after this, the government involving itself in logging contracts with various companies draws a suspicion over its attitude. Senior industrialists clearly point out that the harvest levels in the forest have been coming down drastically but the government reviews have shown that the harvest rates are above sustainable levels. What does this infer' It can be easily said that with continuing job loss, lower productivity and harvest levels in terms of quality and quantity and decreasing competitiveness in global markets and loss of key ecological issues, Ontario forest industry is not at all economically sustainable as pointed out by the Government. Ecological sustainability For many years, its been widely understood that the continous logging of the forests has clearly resulted in the reduction of bio-diversity, forest composition and degradation of habitat. The rate of logging has clearly increased and experts put the estimates at 6.6 hectares of land per year, which is clearly alarming. In the year 2002, the practice of clear cutting by the industries in that the Environment Commisioner who termed it as "experiment on a massive scale" and observed that it was well

Hidden Time Capsule from both the Renaissance and the Age of Baroque Essay

Hidden Time Capsule from both the Renaissance and the Age of Baroque - Essay Example This period began in Italy, Rome, at around the year 1600 and rapidly spread to other European regions (Fitzpatrick, 2008). Its popularity and success were however encouraged by the Roman Catholic Church which insisted that the arts produced at the time were to communicate various religious subjects through emotional or direct involvements. This was in response to the protestant reformation that was taking place at the time. The baroque architectural styles were perceived as means through which visitors would be entertained and triumphant control or power would be expressed (Buelow, 2004). On the other hand, the renaissance period began back in the 14th century and lasted through to the 17th century and was also started in Italy while spreading to other European regions in the course of time (Hinds, 2009). The period mainly encompassed the creative flowering of the vernacular and Latino literatures, the establishment of linear perspectives along with various rendering styles for brin ging out the natural realities of painting (Mason, 2005). In writing this paper, I am imagining that I am a cultural anthropologist searching a hidden capsule from both periods with two items each from these periods’ art, music, architecture, philosophy and literature locked inside them. The paper therefore describes the each of the items that have been found in the capsules from these periods. Inside the first capsule, I found the first art from the Renaissance period which came from Giotto di Bondone who lived between the years 1267-1337 and treated paintings as windows in space. He made his break by using the Byzantine styles and made his first masterwork found were the decorations of Padua’s Scrovegni Chapel which were completed around the year 1305 (Hinds, 2009). I also found the sculptures of Pieta and David that were made by Michelangelo even before he turned thirty years were classical and herculean in structure in this capsule. Michelangelo was the most famous painter, sculptor and artist of the renaissance period (Mason, 2005). Inside the second capsule that came from the baroque period, Aleijadinho of Brazil creations of the statute called Santuario de bom jesus de matosinhos that is located in Congonhas was found. Most of his finest works were several soapstone structures of Old Testament prophets that were created on the terraces of the Brazilian temple (Fitzpatrick, 2008). The fountains of Bernini that were created between the years 1598 to 1680 also have high traits of the Baroque period were also found in the second capsule. Bernini was renowned for making sculptures that could combine the spiritual with the physical and created several busts for the powerful people who lived during his time (Buelow, 2004). In the first capsule, I found music from the renaissance period that had been produced by composers like Guillaume Dufay and Giovanni da Palestrina which included masses and motets (Mason, 2005). Masses were sacred compositions that mainly set the Eucharistic liturgies into music. On the other hand, motets were highly varied musical compositions that were choral (Hinds, 2009). In the second capsule, I found musical types like the concerto and the sinfonia which came into being during the baroque period. The sinfonia was an Italian form of symphony and comprised of an orchestral piece whereas the concertos were composed of three elements which were the solo instruments, movements and an orchestra that accompanied the two (Fitzpatrick, 2008). The cathedral of Morelia Michoacan that are situated in Mexico and the Basilica di San Sebastiano gardens in Sicily are the best examples of baroque period architecture that were found in this capsule. These two

Time Management Essay Example for Free

Time Management Essay This report has been prepared with the purpose of analysing and evaluating my current time usage, in order to assess my time management skills. Time Management involves setting priorities and undertaking goal management in order to as efficient and productive as possible. The aim of this report is to evaluate my current time management skills and isolate areas in which I need to improve and also to establish what theories and methods I must utilize in order to ensure that my time is well managed. The objective of this report is to properly analyse my findings in order to make accurate conclusions and in turn determine recommendations as to how I can adopt better time management skills in order to achieve my goals and objectives. Prior to preparing this report, I was required to identify my life goals and objectives on a short and long term basis in different areas of my life. These being; study, family, personal, work, social, community service, home duties and sleep. I was then required to prioritise my goals and objectives, estimate how I was spending my time and record a detailed time log over a one week period. The most accurate method when recording time usage data was immediate documentation. I also used my current organisational tools as a resource to remind me how I had recently spent my time and what I could expect from the coming week making estimations. After comparing my estimated and actual time usage figures (Refer to Appendix 5), it became apparent that there was little difference between the two sets of figures. Although my results indicated that my estimates were fairly accurate, they show that I am consistently spending my time in ways that are perhaps not ideal. In order to narrow the gap between my actual time usage and ideal time usage I will need to spend more time studying, and less time socialising and performing home duties. In particular, study is a high priority for me and I must therefore make sure I undertake goal management and establish it as one of my priorities. One way I can close the gap, is by utilizing my current commuting time to perform my weekly readings for university. I can also use the principles behind the Haynes theory on prime time and ? The Pickle Jar Theory in order to ensure I am using my time productively. Only then will I be able to realistically work towards my long term goals and objectives. Introduction: This report has been prepared with the purpose of analyzing and evaluating my current time usage, in order to assess my time management skills. Time Management includes tools or techniques for planning and scheduling time, usually with the aim to increase the effectiveness and/or efficiency of personal and corporate time use. (Wikipedia 2007, para. 1). Time Management involves setting priorities and undertaking goal management in order to as efficient and productive as possible. Time Management is an essential ingredient to success, as it discourages time wasting activities and procrastination which hinders productivity. Understanding the importance of Time Management enables individuals to take active steps towards better managing their time and governing the eventual outcome. (Mind Tools 2007, para. 2). Aims and objectives The aim of this report is to evaluate my current time management skills and isolate areas in which I need to improve. The purpose of this report is also to establish what theories and methods I must utilize in order to ensure that my time is well managed. As well as being an assessed task, this report is necessary in order to properly evaluate my current time usage. Once this evaluation has been made, decisions on strategies can be made in order to enable me to be more time efficient in the future. I am currently trying to divide my time between a number of different activities and areas of my life, however up until now I have never stopped to evaluate my efficiency. The objective of this report is to properly analyse my findings in order to make accurate conclusions. From these conclusions I will be able to determine recommendations as to how I can adopt better time management skills in order to achieve my long term goals and objectives. Scope This Time Management report has been written in keeping with Mohans recommended structure of a formal report (Mohan et al 2004, p348). It encompasses a summary, introduction to time management, aims and objectives, the method of research, results, discussion and analysis, conclusion and recommendations. Although this report gives mention to a number of established time management theories, it does not go into any extensive detail. These boundaries have been set out by the lecturer in charge of assessing this report in order to keep its contents relatively brief. Although this report is directed to Roslyn Hunter and Julie McLaren, I am the person who will be affected by its findings and who will have to take into consideration the proposed recommendations. Body of Report Method of Research Prior to preparing this report, I was required to identify my life goals and objectives on a short and long term basis. The time frames I worked with for the purpose of this exercise were ? 3 years (Refer to Appendix 2) and ? Semester 1 (Refer to Appendix 3) respectively. These goals and objectives were established, based on different areas of my life. These being; study, family, personal, work, social, community service, home duties and sleep. I was then required to prioritise my goals and objectives according to what is most importance to me. After these were documented, I was then required to estimate how I was spending my time. Estimates were made as to the number of hours I spent in the different areas of my life (Refer to Appendix 1). After these estimates were made, I was then required to record a detailed time log over a one week period (Refer to Appendix 4). During this time, I took my log wherever I went and recorded my time usage in half an hour intervals. This exercise enabled me to compare my actual time usage with my estimated time usage. The most accurate method when recording time usage data was immediate documentation. Ensuring that I had my time log on me at all times meant that I could fill in my time log frequently and consistently. If I were to have relied on my memory, I am certain that this alternate method would have resulted in inaccurate data being recorded. When estimating my time usage I took into consideration my current study load, commitments, sleeping patterns and general level of up keep. I also used my current organisational tools as a resource to remind me how I had recently spent my time and what I could expect from the coming week. Being an avid user of ? to do lists, diaries and planning calendars (Refer to Appendix 7), I had on hand a lot of resources to assist me in estimating my time usage. This method led me to make relatively accurate estimates on my actual time usage. Results After comparing my estimated and actual time usage figures (Refer to Appendix 5), it became apparent that there was little difference between the two sets of figures. (Refer to Appendix 6). After estimating that I would spend 35 hours studying, my actual time spent was 34. 5 hours. I thought I would spend 7 hours with my family; however my actual time spent was 10. 5 hours due to a family birthday. The actual amount of time I spent on ?personal activities ended up falling 2 hours of short of my estimated figure. I actually spent 17 hours in this area as opposed to 19 hours. As I assumed, I did not spend any time on ? work related activities. My actual number of hours spent socialising fell 3 hours short of my estimated figure. I actually spent 12 hours in this area as opposed to 15 hours. I estimated that I would spent 2 hours doing community service with the Red Cross, however I actually did not find the time during this 7 day period to perform community service. The hours spent performing ? home duties equaled a total of 28. 5 hours, which exceeded the estimated figure of 25 hours. In addition the actual amount of time I spent sleeping was 65. 5 hours, which was only slightly greater than my estimated figure of 65 hours. Discussion and Analysis My ability to accurately estimate my time usage can be attributed to the fact that I consistently document my daily movements, which has been useful when making estimates in this activity. Choosing not to undertake paid employment this semester has also meant that I am splitting my time across fewer areas, making it easier to predict how I will spend my time. Although my results indicated that my estimates were fairly accurate, they show that I am consistently spending my time in ways that are perhaps not ideal. My ideal amount of time (Refer to Appendix 6) spent studying is in fact 40 hours, whereas I am only currently achieving on average 35 hours. I estimated that I would spend 15 hours socialising based on my weekly patterns prior to the 7 day period I documented. Spending only 12 hours on this activity meant that I was closer to achieving my ideal time allowance than usual. Although socialising is an enjoyable activity, it is affecting my ability to achieve my desired amount of study hours. Ideally, I would also like to cut down on my hours devoted to ? home duties, which happened to exceed both my estimated and ideal time allowance. Realistically, while I am still living in the suburbs, it is unlikely that I will be able to spend 23 hours performing ? home duties as I incur a lot of commuting time living in Glen Waverley. Conclusions Performing this time management exercise has identified that my ideal time usage and actual time usage are not on par. I appear to be familiar with my time usage as my estimated time allowances and actual time allowances were very similar however I am not spending my time in way that I ideal to achieving my goals and objectives. In order to narrow the gap between my actual time usage and ideal time usage I will need to spend more time studying, and less time socialising and performing home duties. I have identified that study is of ?high priority when I chose to assign it an A (Refer to Appendix 3) and must therefore make sure I undertake goal management and establish it as one of my priorities. Once I narrow the gap and start achieving my short term objectives and goals, I can work towards my long term objectives and goals. Without achieving my ideal time allowance I am in no position to work Recommendations In order to close the gap between my actual time usage and ideal time usage I will need to consider ways in which I can prioritise and manage my goals. Haynes suggests establishing when a persons prime time for working is and then planning for the most important and demanding tasks to be done duringthis time (Haynes, M 2001). This theory promotes efficiency and could assist me in making my study time more productive. I could also consider utilizing my current commuting time to do my university readings. This would mean I have more time to study and in turn, fewer hours would be written off to home duties. The Pickle Jar Theory uses the analogy of an empty pickle jar to think about how we use the fixed amount of time available to us each day. This theory could also be used when I plan my schedule and assist me to get important work done while still leaving time for socialising. (Mind Tools 2007, para. 2). I will continue to fully utilize my diary, to do lists and planning calendar (Refer to Appendix 7) as they have helped me successfully plan my time in the past. My next step now is put my recommendations into action in order to close the gap, improve my time management skills and achieve my short term goals and objectives. Only then will I be able to realistically work towards my long term goals and objectives.

Psychosocial Effects of Technology

Psychosocial Effects of Technology Olivia Di Giulio Introduction As individuals of a modern society, we are use to technology being present in almost every area of our everyday lives. Being that technology is so present in our everyday lives, it is almost impossible to live a normal life without it. Technology such as laptop computers and cell phones have become fixtures of modern culture, affecting how we communicate, work, and spend our free time. Though the effects appear minimal on the surface, technology can alter an individual’s physiological state. Technology affects how view ourselves, our relationship with others, and the ways in which we communicate, therefore, creating negative psychosocial affects on the lives of individuals. Though technology is meant to promote the positive aspects of human connection, it creates an abundance of negative affects and backlashes. Technology has been created and manifested in numerous forms throughout the twenty first century. Technology is a large umbrella term, due to the thousands of creations that can fall under its category. Technology can range from a physical creation such as a laptop and a cellphone, to a virtual creation such as the Internet, its various websites, and various social media applications that can be accessed from both cell phones and computers. The internet, which can be accessed from numerous technological devices, allows individuals to fully participate in its virtual world through sharing pictures, online chat forums, blog posts, and to write about their life and daily activities through social media. Through these various avenues, the Internet allows users to create virtual relationships and communicable ties. Though all of these facets seem extr emely positive, the negative impacts outweigh its benefits. For every positive feature, in turn, creates a negative psychological impact in some shape or form. Technology can affect our individual mental states of being, how we view ourselves, the ways in which we communicate, and our relationships with others, which are some of the most important features of our human existence. Through technology we have redefined acceptable behaviors and moral norms, the basis of communication, and who we are as a culture. One might ask why it matters that technology has affected our psychosocial sates of being. It matters because we are mentally no longer the same culture that we were before these technological advancements. As a society, our mental states have changed negatively. We have become lazy, dependent on technology, isolated, and unable to put down our technological devices. Though technology can be extremely helpful, these are not positive changes, and have affected the human brain, human interaction, and communication culture as a whole. We must be observant as a culture in how often we use our technology/ the ways in which we use our technology, in order to lessen its negative psychosocial affects, otherwise, we will not be able to live without it. In order to be proactive and lessen these affects, we must look at the devices that have forever changed the face of communication and the negative ways in which it affects our mental state and social aspects of society. There are numerous technological advancements that have entirely redefined communication as a whole and the ways in which our society communicates. These technological advancements consist of cell phones, which allow instant communication through texting, and computers, which allow for the download of various communication software, applications, and social media apps (which can be found on both devices). Frequent uses of these devices and applications have allowed methods of communication to be entirely redefined, because most elements of communication can now take place virtually. Technology is extremely convenient and appealing, making it extremely difficult for users to resist, or wish to have face-to-face communication. A survey of undergraduate students showed that 85 percent use technology and social media to stay in touch with friends as opposed to other forms of communication (HumanKinetics.com). Due to its convenience and easy accessibility, technological communication has become a staple of our society and has entirely redefined not only the way in which we communicate, and but also affecting one’s relationships, due to communication playing a significant role in the creation of human ties. Technology Negatively Affecting Personal Relationships The quality of and logistics of human relationships have suffered negative affects due to technology use. Communication is a huge aspect of relationship building and when the basis of communication changes, the basis of relationship building changes as well. Communication plays a fundamental role in producing â€Å"the common understandings† that help create moral norms and â€Å"social value systems† (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Within technological avenues such as texting, communication is entirely virtual and many elements of conversation are lost such as body language, tone, and facial expressions, allowing conversation to become extremely impersonal and lack depth (Pyschcentral.com). According to psychologist Sherry Turkle, technological communication, such as texting, ironically interrupts relationship building, and does not foster conditions, which are necessary to build a true connection with another individual (Pyschcentral.com). Being that indi viduals are constantly connected through texting, they do not receive the proper alone time, which is necessary in developing a connection with others (Pyschcentral.com). In a recent study it has been found that the interruption of texting in a physical conversation â€Å"inhibits the development of closeness and trust†, and reduces the empathy that one can feel for others (Wbur.org). Technology does not substitute the quality of physical conversation and does not reach the same heights and depth that physical conversation can. Through conversation, individuals search for and create moral norms, in which technology prevents the possibility of having these in depth conversations (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Physical conversation provides the tools necessary in which people can develop â€Å"personal identity, build close relationships, solidarity and community†; elements that are all lost within technological communication (Bruce Drake, Kristi Yuthas, Jesse Dillard). Instead, communication and relationships fostered through technology are extremely substance less, due to the fact that it is difficult to kindle a true connection in a virtual world, have in depth conversations, and rely on virtual fulfillment. Therefore, technological relations have numerous backlashes. Like realistic relationships, the relationships created through technology give individuals reassurance and validation. If the multitude of these associations is not fulfilled through virtual interaction, it can cause one to feel empty. It is extremely likely for one to feel empty when they rely on this type of validation, because it is virtual, and therefore, less likely for these associations to be fulfilled instantly, as opposed to physical contact. Relationships and the process of relationship building have changed, due to our societies shift in dialogue thanks to technology. What we say and how we say it has been entirely changed thanks to technology, which has reinvented the technicalities of language. Cell phones and computers that operate off of a wireless connection can provide users with extremely fast technological communication, allowing messages to be delivered with speed. Abbreviations and colloquial language allow users to type fast messages within texts and chat rooms to one another. Though these aspects seem extremely positive, they are can be extremely dangerous for communication culture. Wireless connection and new conversational mechanisms provide the perfect equation to entirely redefine the face of communication. Users have become extremely accustomed to this type of fast pace communication, to the point where they can no longer live without it, due to its convenience and simplicity. Technology makes users desire speed as an essential need, which is extremely detrimental to quality communication. Technological communication, such as text ing, and online chat rooms, have virtually destroyed the English language and uses of its correct forms within these devices, have become few and far between. Individuals are no longer taking the time to place emphasis on certain expressions or to be grammatically correct, because it is simply easier and faster to speak colloquially, therefore, preventing quality communication (Donovan A. McFarlane). Quality communication requires effort and without it, it leads to various misunderstandings (Donovan A. McFarlane). When communication is misunderstood, it is no longer efficient or achieves its purpose (Donovan A. McFarlane). In our society speed is often mistaken for efficiency (Donovan A. McFarlane). Individuals would rather summarize what they are saying, instead of properly explaining their ideas, due to our society’s need for speed, that technology makes us desire (Donovan A. McFarlane). Though it is meant to simplify communication, technology has made communication more di fficult, due its impersonal nature and lack of quality, which promotes ineffectiveness, as opposed to cohesive dialogue (Donovan A. McFarlane). Technology Affecting Behavior, Mental Health, and Mental Processes As a culture, behavior has also been redefined through what is now seen as morally correct and acceptable. Technology has set these new standards in behavior and implemented entirely new social boundaries. It been said that technology such as the Internet, does not promote social integration (Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark). Over the last 35 years â€Å"Citizens vote less, go to church less, discuss government with their neighbors less, are members of fewer voluntary organizations, have fewer dinner parties, and generally get together less for civic and social purposes† (Kraut, Patterson, Lundmark) due to technology, therefore, enabling social disengagement and a less unified society. According to HumanKinetics.com, technology can cause one to feel, â€Å"distracted, overly stressed, and isolated†, due to frequent use. Technological avenues, such as texting, further manifest negative behavioral habits by hindering our ability to confront situations, allowing individuals to hide behind the screen of their phone (Pyschcentral.com). Bernard Guerney Jr., founder of the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement, believes that texting creates a â€Å"lack of courage† to approach an intense or awkward situation, because it is simply easier to hide behind a screen, which can hinder one’s social growth (Pyschcentral.com). One can grow from certain life experiences, which now have now become obsolete through the advent of texting (Pyschcentral.com). Technology also manifests lazy behavior (Insidetechnology360.com). Technology’s numerous functions enable most manual work to be done digitally, therefore, making the lives of individuals much easier and ultimately making them lazier. As technology evolves, devices are able to do more and more for users (Insidetechnology360.com). For example, Apple’s iPhone feature Siri, allows users to press a button and talk into the phone to request an action such as surfing the web, or making a p hone call. As if making a phone or surfing the web was not easy enough, Apple has made it all the more easier by allowing users to perform these actions with a push of a button. Features like this, in addition to many other features of technology, breed a lazy society, because we no longer have to perform any actions ourselves, because technology can simply do it for us. Additionally, technology enables the developing of more severe personality disorders. With features that enable users to create a profile about their life on social media sites, such as Facebook, and features that allow users to post up-to-the minute pictures on their daily activities on social media apps such Instagram, it allows users to become fixated on their appearance and reputation. Therefore, users will often post their best traits via Internet, enabling for the manifestation of behavioral conditions, such as narcissism (Humankinetics.com). The more one is engrossed, the more likely one can experience physiological, emotional, and behavioral changes such as narcissism (Yi-Fen Chen). Certain activities and interactions a user can partake in will increase the likelihood that there will be psychological traces left behind from the virtual environment, within the individual, after experiencing it (Yi-Fen Chen). The negative affects of technology, which are visible to the human eye, appear minimal. These affects can be seen in the way communication has changed and the way in which we narcissistically portray ourselves via Internet, and do not seem extremely harmful. The affects in which we cannot see, such as, those that affect the brain are the most detrimental, because they target our mental health. Negative affects of technology of have further manifested themselves in the forms of possible addictions and mental illnesses. Being that technology is extremely present in our lives and convenient, it is hard for some to live without it, creating an inseparable and unhealthy relationship between the user and technology in the form of an addiction. Though it is not a recognized disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, there has been much speculation to include Internet Addiction in in the latest addition of the DiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorders (U.S. National Library of M edicine), due to the manifestation of unhealthy relationships between users and technology. Internet Addiction is seen as an impulsive â€Å"spectrum disorder† which consists of â€Å"online and/or offline computer usage and consists of at least three subtypes: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and e-mail/text messaging† (U.S. National Library of Medicine). In 2012 study done by the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, showed a strong correlation between problematic Internet use and psychotic-like experiences (U.S. National Library of Medicine). As a society, we must be extremely conscious and aware towards our technology use, due to its horrible psychosocial affects. Due to the way that it is positively promoted within our society, most individuals would never suspect the horrible backlashes of technology. We must be proactive about the way in which we use technology/ how we use our technology in order to prevent serious changes towards our behavior, mental health, relationships, and how we communicate. These affects are extremely detrimental towards our society and if we do not act upon them by monitoring our technology use, communication, social interaction, and our own mental health will only grow worse, and we will therefore have a communication crisis. Works Cited Adler, Iris. â€Å"How Our Digital Devices Are Affecting Our Personal Relationships.† wbur.org. 2013. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://www.wbur.org/2013/01/17/digital-lives-i Chen, Yi-Fen. â€Å"See you on Facebook: exploring influences on Facebook continuous usage†. Behaviour Information Technology 39 (2014): 59–70. Web. Drake, Bruce, Yuthas, Kristi, Dillard, Jesse. â€Å"It’s Only Words – Impacts of Information Technology on Moral Dialogue.† Journal of Business Ethics 23 (2000): 41-59. Web. Human Kinetics. â€Å"Technology can have positive and negative impact on social interactions.† humankinetics.com. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/technology-can-have-positive-and- negative-impact-on-social-interactions Kraut, Robert, Patterson, Michael, Lundmark, Vicki. â€Å"Internet Paradox: A Social Technology That Reduces Social Involvement and Psychological Well-Being?† American Psychologist 9 (1998): Web. McFarlane, Donovan. â€Å"Social Communication in a Technology-Driven Society: A Philosophical Exploration of Factor-Impacts and Consequences.† American Communication Journal 12 (2010): 1-2.Web. Mittal VA, Dean DJ, Pelletier, A. â€Å"Internet addiction, reality substitution and longitudinal changes in psychotic-like experiences in young adults.† Early Intervention Psychiatry 3 (2013): 1751-7893. Web. Mohan, Bharath. Is Technology Making Humans More Lazy – Yes. Insidetechnology360.com. R.R. Donnelley, 20 Feb. 2011. Web. 24 Nov. 2014. http://www.insidetechnology360.com/index.php/is-technology-making-humans-more-lazy-yes-5968/ Pies, Ronald. â€Å"Should DSM-V Designate â€Å"Internet Addiction† a Mental Disorder†?† Psychiatry 2 (2009): 31-37. Web. Suval, Lauren. Does Texting Hinder Social Skills?Psych Central.com. Psych Central, 2012. Web. 02 Nov. 2014. http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2012/05/02/does-texting- hinder-social-skills/ 1

Theatre Essays Samuel Beckett

Theatre Essays Samuel Beckett Discuss Samuel Becketts handling of identity in his plays Waiting for Godot and Happy Days. The work of Samuel Beckett can be seen to span both the Modernist and Postmodernist paradigms (Bradbury and McFarlane, 1991; Green and LeBihan, 1996), on the one hand being influenced by such canonical Modernist writers as James Joyce and Luigi Pirandello (Knowlson, 1996) and on the other relying heavily on Postmodern notions such as the transgression of the body, the performative identity and the failure of grand narratives such as language and truth. This point is made by Richard Begam in his study Samuel Beckett and the End of Modernity (1996): â€Å"Becketts conception of his undertaking, what we would now call his postmodernism, recognized that an absolute break with the past, a complete supersession of what had gone before, was itself the product of a teleological or modern form of thinking. Proust and Joyce therefore became not figures to be replaced or surmounted but telling points of reference in an ongoing dialogue between past and present.† (Begam, 1996: 14) Beckett’s position as a liminal writer, spanning two distinctly different but obviously connected intellectual regimes, allows us to examine not only his work but the larger context of critical and performance theory. With this in mind, in this essay I would like to look at two main areas of Beckett’s work that are both metonymous with changes in post-War theatre (and perhaps literature) as a whole. Firstly I would like to concentrate on the notion of Postmodernism as it relates to performance, looking at leitmotifs and tropes as they appear in Waiting for Godot (1955) and Happy Days (1961), and secondly I would like to go on to look at the whole notion of identity and its dissolution in these same texts before drawing conclusions as to what this treatment says about the place of performance in contemporary theatre and, perhaps, the wider context of society itself. First of all, however and as a foundation for my later exposition, I would like to offer a brief summary of Postmodernism. Postmodernism, as Fredric Jameson points out, can be best understood through its relationship and difference to Modernism, a philosophical and artistic concept that had it roots in the Enlightenment of the eighteenth century (Bradbury and McFarlane, 1991). In an artistic sense, the Modernist work was characterised by experiment and a rejection of the Romantic subjective self. Works such as T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land (1989) and James Joyce’s Ulysses (1977) exemplify both the Modernist propensity for innovation and the removed authorial voice and we can certainly see this in many, if not all of Beckett’s theatrical works. Postmodernism, as Jean Francois Lyotard declared in his essay â€Å"The Postmodern Condition† (1991) reflected the breakdown and disillusionment felt by the failure of the very foundations of Modernism; foundations that included such hitherto accepted givens as truth, the self, the homogeneity of Literature and the Arts and many of the other systems of thought that Lyotard termed the ‘metanarratives’ (Lyotard, 1991: 36). Whereas Modernism sought newness and innovation, Postmodernism resulted in the adoption of style over content (Robertson, 1996: 3), the questioning of accepted constructs of knowledge (Foucault, 1989) and the language (Derrida, 2004) and, as we shall see with Beckett the exposure of the artistic machinery. This last point, I think, is crucial to an understanding of Beckett’s place as both a Modernist and a Postmodern writer. As I have already stated, we can recognise certain Modernist images and leitmotifs in Beckett’s work (Eagleton, 1992: 186): the starkly bare characterisation, the dour vision of humanity that we also find in Eliot and Woolf and the conscious effort to experiment and innovate but, underneath this, we also detect a distinctly Postmodern sensibility; one that delights in the deliberate exposure of the performative nature of both the theatre and life. In Waiting for Godot, for instance, there is a constant comic antagonism created between actor and audience, as ideas and lines of narrative are picked up and abandoned without the usual dramatic sense of resolution (Schechner, 1988). In the first Act for example, Estragon begins a joke that is never finished: â€Å"Estragon: Tell it tome! Vladimir: Ah, stop it! Estragon: An Englishman having drunk a little more than usual goes to a brothel. The bawd asks him if he wants a fair one, a dark one, or a red-haired one. Go on. Vladimir: Stop it!† (Beckett, 1955: 16)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The antagonism and frustration engendered by this un-ended joke is more than a mere literary device it is also a performance device that sets up a markedly different actor/audience relationship. Unlike, say, classical Aristotelian dramatic theory that asserts the imperative of the â€Å"incentive moment† (Hartley and Ladu, 1948: 14) the â€Å"rising action† (Hartley and Ladu, 1948: 14) and the resolution, here Beckett (as indeed he does throughout the play) creates a deliberate anti-climax that immediately calls in to question the binary between reality and performance. The same also could be said about much of the dramatic structure of Happy Days, as the workings of the performance are constantly exposed to the gaze of the audience. Here, for instance, Winnie second guesses the thoughts of the audience members as she talks to a passer-by: â€Å"Winnie:†¦What’s she doing? He says – What’s the idea? He says – stuck up to her diddies in the bleeding ground – coarse fellow – What does it mean? He says – what’s it meant to mean – and so on.† (Beckett, 1961: 32)  Ã‚   Here Beckett deconstructs the very essence of the performance itself, exposing the bewildered reaction of the audience to his own drama. In a Postmodern dissolution of identity boundaries, the performer here becomes playwright, audience, character and actor as not only are the thoughts of the character exposed but so too the thoughts of the audience. This is not the only deconstruction of performance Beckett employs in the play. We see, for instance, the questioning of dramatic convention; Happy Days is, for all intents, a monologue but it features two characters, it is about the movement of time but, ironically, the main actor is static throughout and although it is primarily a play about words and not actions it is peppered with pauses and space. All factors that point to both plays as being as much rooted in Postmodernism as Modernism. We have touched upon it already but the overriding sense in both Waiting for Godot and Happy Days is the search and struggle for identity and this also, as we shall see, has a marked impact on the performance of the play and what it means regarding the audience/actor dialectic. The social background to Happy Days was described, in an affective way by Harold Clurman in an early review: â€Å"Beckett is the poet of a morally stagnant society. In this society fear, dismay and a sort of a stunned absent-mindedness prevail in the dark of our consciousness, while a flashy, noisy, bumptious, thick-headed complacency flourishes in the open.† (Clurman, 1998: 235) It is against this backdrop that the characters in the play struggle to maintain their scant identities. Even before the action begins we are made witness to the difficulties in establishing an individual existence as the characters’, names, Winnie and Willie, straightway blur their respective personal boundaries. We see this also to a greater extent in Waiting for Godot, as Gogo, Pozzo and Godot, combine to form a linguistic homogeneity that suggests a group rather than an individual identity. The mise en scene of Happy Days is part Eliotesque wasteland: â€Å"Expanse of scorched grass rising centre to low mound. Gentle slopes downto front and either of stage. Back an abrupter fall to stage level† (Beckett, 1961: 9)   part Postmodern irony, as the backdrop reveals itself to be a self conscious trompe-l’oeil that represents â€Å"unbroken plain and sky receding to meet in far distance.† (Beckett, 1961: 9). Within this, Winnie literally stands as part of the scenery, only half visible that is, in itself, a symbolic representation of both time passing and the extent that she has already lost a great deal of her personal identity. As I have already hinted at, Winnie deconstructs the notion of movement and stasis; on a psychological level she moves quickly between times as in this passage where she and us are taken back into her personal history prompted by the news of a death of a friend: â€Å"Winnie: Charlie Hunter! (Pause) I close my eyes – (she takes off spectacles and does s, hot in one hand, spectacles in other, Willie turns page) – and am sitting on his knees again, in the back garden at Borough Green, under the horse-beech.† (Beckett, 1961: 14) Physically however she is literally trapped, unable to move or stop the flowing of time swallowing her completely. Her identity becomes fashioned by her memories as at first, in the initial Act, they form a reasonable homogeneity and then, in Act Two become more and more diffuse, more and more fractured until by the end of the play she exists as merely snapshots of a life that has been: â€Å"Winnie: Win! (pause)Oh this is a happy days, this will have been another happy day! (Pause) After all (Pause) So far. Pause. She hums tentatively beginning of song, then sings softly, musical box tune.† (Beckett, 1961: 47)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As John Pilling suggests in his study of Samuel Beckett (1976: 85), the playwright twins the enormity of the search for identity in an alienating world with the minutiae of everyday living, as Winnie spends a great deal of the play’s time conducting worthless searches for toothbrushes, or lipsticks or many of the other incidental objects of existence. Ultimately, her search for a personal identity is proved fruitless as she becomes subsumed in that which surrounds her, perhaps a particularly twentieth century vision of the struggle of the personal psychology in the face of the modern city. Waiting for Godot, I think, concerns itself with similar themes and similar characters. Martin Esslin characterised Beckett’s Waiting for Godot as â€Å"concerned with the hope of salvation through the workings of grace† (Esslin, 1968: 55) and we can see that is certainly a major thread in the play. However, we can also note that it concerns itself not with a general salvation but with a very a personal one, with each character desperately searching for their own identity amid the alienation and ennui of the surrounding environment. Most of the play’s linguistic rhythm arises out of the characters’ attempt to assert their own identity in the face of the others: â€Å"Vladimir: Charming evening we’re having. Estragon: Unforgettable. Vladimir: And its not over. Estragon: Apparently not. Vladimir: Its only beginning. Estragon: Its awful. Vladimir: Its worse than being in the theatre.† (Beckett, 1955: 34)   The tooing and froing of the dialogue here is a perfect example of this point, with neither Vladimir nor Estragon willing to surrender themselves to the other. The same can be seen in a more graphic sense with the Pozzo/Lucky relationship that is, at its heart a Hegelian dialectic of the master and slave, with each party attempting (and failing) to break away from the other. In the comic scene towards the end of the play that depicts Vladimir and Estragon exchanging symbolic identities in the form of their hats (Beckett, 1961: 71-72) we can note Beckett’s observation on the ironies of Postmodern life: â€Å"Vladimir takes puts on Lucky’s hat in place of his own which he hands to Estragon. Estragon takes Vladimir’s hat. Vladimir adjusts Lucky’s hat on his head. Estragon hands Vladimir’s hat back to Vladimir who takes it and hands it back to Estragon who takes it and hands it back to Vladimir who takes it and throws it down.† (Beckett, 1955: 72)      The absurdity of this scene arises from the fact that each hat is the same, or at least very similar, so that it makes very little difference which hat ends up on which head. This is, I think, symbolic of the larger treatment of identity within the play; with the playwright suggesting the absurdity of the search for personal individuation. Are not identities much like hats, asks Beckett, remarkably the same? If Happy Days is a study of the search for identity under the crushing weight of time passing, Waiting for Godot is the search for identity within the lightness of forgetfulness. Time in the latter is meaningless, it passes with no affect in fact Estragon can not even remember the events of the day before. Within this, the characters desperately cling to the remnants of their identities whether that be in the form of an oppressive relationship to another, an item of clothing or the feint hope of someone who will never arrive. We can see then that the treatment of identity within Beckett’s two major plays mirrors the questions arising out of Postmodernism, questions that concern the nature of identity and the Self. For Postmodern theorists like Judith Butler (1999) and Michel Foucault (1990) the Self is a performative construct, both given to us by society and adopted as a mask and we note some of this sense in Beckett. Ultimately, then, Beckett’s work deconstructs the very notion of a theatrical performance, suggesting that this is merely one of a number of performances that occurs at any one time. The relationship, then, between the audience and the actor changes from one of passivity to one of dialogue as the former is exposed as relying as much on performance as the latter. This can be seen to be a reflection of Antonin Artaud’s assertions on the Theatre of Cruelty in his second manifesto: â€Å"†¦just as there are to be no empty spatial areas, there must be no let up, no vacuum in the audience’s mind or sensitivity. That is to say there will be no distinct divisions, no gap between life and theatre.† (Artaud, 1985: 84)   Beckett’s work says as much about the identities of the audience as the characters and as much about the performative nature of the wider society as the performance of the theatre. References Artaud, Antonin (1985), The Theatre and its Double, (London: John Calder) Beckett, Samuel (1961), Happy Days, (London: Faber and Faber) Beckett, Samuel (1955), Waiting for Godot, (London: Faber and Faber) Begam, Richard (1996), Samuel Beckett and the End of Modernity, (Stanford: Stanford University Press) Bradbury, Malcolm and McFarlane, James (eds) (1991), Modernism: A Guide to European Literature 1890-1930, (London: Penguin) Butler, Judith (1999), Gender Trouble, (London: Taylor and Francis) Cormier, Ramona and Pallister, Janis (1998), â€Å"En Attendent Godot: Tragedy or Comedy?†, published in Culotta Andonian, Cathleen (ed), The Critical Responses to Samuel Beckett, (London: Greenwood Press) Clurman, Harold (1998), â€Å"Happy Days: Review†, published in Culotta Andonian, Cathleen (ed), The Critical Responses to Samuel Beckett, (London: Greenwood Press) Eagleton, Terry (1992), Literary Theory: An Introduction, (London: Blackwell) Esslin, Martin (1968), The Theatre o f the Absurd, (London: Pelican) Foucault, Michel (1990), The History of Sexuality: Volume 1, (London: Penguin) Green, Keith and LeBihan (1996), Critical Theory and Practice: A Coursebook, (London: Routledge) Hartley, Lodwick and Ladu, Arthur (1948), Patterns in Modern Drama, (London: Prentice Hill) Jameson, Fredric (1991), Postmodernism, or the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, (London: Duke University) Kenner, Hugh (1973), A Reader’s Guide to Samuel Beckett, (London: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux) Knowlson, James (1996), Dammed to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett, (London: Bloomsbury) Lyotard, Jean Francois (1991), â€Å"The Postmodern Condition†, published in Jenkins, Keith (ed), The Postmodern History Reader, (London: Routledge) Pilling, John (1976), Samuel Beckett, (London: Routledge and Kegan Paul) Robertson, Pamela (1996), Guilty Pleasures: Feminist Camp from Mae West to Madonna, (London: Duke University) Schechner, Richard (1988), Performance Theory, (London: Rout ledge)

The Role of Gender in Art Essay -- feminist art

Introduction â€Å"’Gender’ is defined here as the cultural construction of femininity and masculinity, as opposed to the biological sex (male or female) which we are born with. Although feminist theory in its various forms does not offer any single explanation of the differences between men and women, most feminists would reject the idea that male and female characteristics can be found exclusively in any fixed biological attributes. Although some feminists are more concerned than others with tracing of masculine and feminine characteristics to their essential biological roots †¦ (essentialists), most feminists from a wide range of positions have contributed to the argument about the relative importance of social, cultural and psychic forces in the construction of identity as either feminine or masculine.†1 This essay will initially address how art history has been discussed by feminist historians in the latter part of the twentieth century. It will then discuss two pairs of mutually contemporary works of art whilst attempting to introduce concepts into the discussion of the works themselves, in order to point to differences or similarities in technique, form and style, and ways to approach an analysis of the work. Finally a conclusion will be drawn on the importance of the role of gender arising from the discourse. Gender and the role of gender is now a major part of the paradigm of the historiographical study of art. Since the 1970s feminist art historians have challenged the extant tenets of art history and have explored radical approaches to gender in art. It is important to note that art historians have formed a crucial part of the wider debate concerning feminism. Linda Nochlin`s essay ‘Why Have There Been No Great Wome... ...erasure from the history. The work is chronological in sequence, which according to Chicago traces the social origins and decline of matriarchy, it`s replacement by patriarchy, the institutionalisation of male oppression and of women`s response to it. â€Å"The Dinner Party is both clumsy and pathbreaking†¦ The Dinner Party is right on time. It comes in the wake of modernism, in loud colours and emotional, high-pitched tone; it rides on the wave of feminist study and insight; it takes seriously both the truths and excesses of female consciousness; it fills a large room; it engaged some 400 (sic) workers in something bigger than anyone; it cannot be ignored and it should not go away.†

The Era of Social Reform Essay examples -- Sociology

The Industrial Revolution was a period of in which fundamental changes occurred in agriculture, factories, mining, transportation, machinery, economic policies, and in the social structure of England. Industrialization began in Great Britain and it was a major turning point in history. It changed the way countries produced its goods. England turned into an agricultural society to an industry and manufacturing society. During this era, there was a huge impact on the growth of cities, employment of skilled and unskilled workers, the role of women and families, and laws and national policies. During this time, there was a great advancement with technology and along with it came the growth of cities. The growth of cities has been seen as a consequence in the Industrial Revolution. Before this era, many people lived in farms or small villages working in agriculture. They would do everything by hand. However, with the occurrence of the Revolution everything changed. The new enclosure laws, which allowed farmers and landlords to fence their fields at the owner’s expense, had left many poor farmers bankrupt and small farms disappeared into large estates. Charles â€Å"Turnip† Townshend introduced crop rotations that restored nutrients to the soil, allowing for greater yield and scientific breeding to improve the quality of herds. The result was an increase in productivity with fewer agricultural workers (Robert Edgar Pg.535). This caused more people to leave the farms to work in the factories. Also, the introduction of new machinery that produced gre ater amount of output made many workers redundant. As a result, many people that lived in farms journeyed to the city to look for work. This required them to move to towns and cities ... ...empts by Parliament to pass laws and national policies designed to improve working conditions and regulations relative to children and women in the workforce. The changes from the revolution left a permanent mark and are very important to society today. Works Cited Bland, Celia. The Mechanical Age: The Industrial Revolution in England. New York, NY: Facts on File, 1995. Print. Lines, Clifford John. Companion to the Industrial Revolution. Ed. Barrie Stuart. Trinder. New York: Facts on File, 1990. Print. Edgar, Robert R., Neil J. Hackett, George F. Jewsbury, Barbara Molony, and Matthew S. Gordon. Civilizations past & Present. 12th ed. Vol. 2. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2008. Print. "Thomas Malthus: Essay on the Principle of Population (1798)." Thomas Malthus: Essay on the Principle of Population (1798). Constituion Society, 10 Sept. 2002. Web. 28 May 2012.