The Creature in the book The Animalinside Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Creature in the book The Animalinside - Essay Example The combination of the images and the accompanying text take a reader through the experiences of the dog encountered. Since there is an outstanding harmony between the images and the text, the book stands on its own as an exemplary cultural event. The accompanying texts help the reader understand the journey undertaken by the dog as well as its future intentions when it is freed from the box. This paper will present a critical analysis of the meaning of the images in the book. The book titled The Animalinside comprises of 14 brief monologues accompanied by 14 outstanding images. A close analysis of the history of the book reveals that all the13 images are coming after the first one was painted in relevance to the first text. The first text came out as an inspiration of Neumann’s two-dimensional creature. The creature has features that make readers view it as a dog, although it tends to be in a leading position in a limited three-dimensional space. The creature highlighted in t he images does not qualify to be a human being. It has outstanding similarities to a dog but has not visible front legs (Ehrenreich 19). The texts accompanying the images reveal Krasznahorkai’s expertise in the use of language, which surpasses the normal skill of telling a story. The accompanying text is highly powerful and readers need to be keen to understand the meaning. After Neumann had produced his first image, Krasznahorkai developed the first accompanying text. In response, Neumann developed 13 more images that Krasznahorkai responded with accompanying the text. The book represents a multimedia collaboration combining expertise from art and literature. Krasznahorkai developed his text in prose form and focused on the creature depicted by Neumann (Pinker 187). The writer began by highlighting that the creature was willing to get out of the bondage in which he existed. Krasznahorkai helps the reader have a direct connection to the mind of the creature.

Portrait of Dr Gachet Essay Example for Free

Portrait of Dr Gachet Essay A. Introduction When the name Van Gogh comes up, one can imagine sunflowers, stars at night, rice fields, and lonely portraits. His works resemble writing. (Berger, 2001, p.87) His life rendered to writing. When one hears his name, one remembers a song, a play, a book.   Van Gogh’s appeal is world-wide. Collectors, dealers, and museums place a high price on a painting. Artists, art critics, and even an ordinary person who knows a thing or two about Western art can appreciate his works as well as his life story.    He was a post impressionist painter. (vangoghgallery.com) One of the controversial paintings of Van Gogh is the Portrait of Dr. Gachet. The subject (Paul Ferdinand Gachet) was the painter’s physician and friend. He made the portrait six weeks before he committed suicide. (businessweek.com, 1998) B. Description / Analysis The subject in the painting occupied much of the space. It cuts a diagonal line in the middle of the canvass. The slant gives the mood of the subject. Dr. Gachet is in a reclining position as if exhausted and sad. The subject’s outline – from his hat, to his shoulders, to his hand, was drawn with soft curved lines. The features of the face and the coat are also of curves. The curves give the work an over-all softness which contributes to the idea of sadness; as opposed to sharp lines which usually denote coldness. There were very few straight lines used. They can only be seen in the objects (two books) beside the subject. There are also the famous small strokes using semi-curved lines used by Van Gogh to give texture. The strokes have little space between them. And, the background colors of these strokes are still very visible. These small strokes create a pattern-like detail ( it used the principle of repetition) to the visual objects that uses them such as subject’s clothes and his background.   The main subject is oval. He is like a fruit reclining on a table. The dominant colors are blue and green. There are many shades using these colors. They are contrasting to the subject’s skin tone which is mostly a combination of yellow and cream. The face and the arms are fair with soft details using light brown and green. The contrast of the dark and the light colors brings attention to the face, and thus the mood of the subject; which as mentioned earlier looks exhausted and sad. The subject was placed in the middle ground.   The foreground are the other visual objects such as books, table and the flowers in a vase. The foreground gives an idea to the setting; that the portrait was done during a casual encounter. The background is an outline of a landscape (in dark blue) and sky (in pale blue). The background colors are of the same shade which create harmony. The Portrait of Dr.Gachet was painted in 1890. Its size is 67 x 56 cm. It used oil on canvas.(paletaworld.org) Van Gogh used this medium the most as shown in his most famous paintings. There are debates on whether Van Gogh’s art is impressionist, expressionist or post-impressionist. Partly, due to the small brush strokes he used to give detail to visual objects, some say he belongs to the impressionist painters. The small strokes are signs of the artist’s swift motion during painting. Since the outline of the visual objects are simple, one gets the idea that the artist must have paid attention to the affect reality such as the mood or feeling of the subject at that time. This presents a way of seeing; as opposed to hyperrealist artworks which concentrate on the mastery of details. (Berger, 2001, p. 8) C. Interpretation The over-all impact of the painting is sadness. It was an intimate portrait because the painter was drawing out feelings. This can be seen in the choice of colors, soft lines and -most obvious- the details of the subject’s face. By the title alone Portrait of Dr. Gachet, one expects to see a serious man. Visual details show the same characteristic as the subject appears to be a serious man. Beside the subject were books. Reading suggests educational or professional background. The subject wore a dark coat and a defined moustache -which are the common symbols of being proper. The usual portraits are arranged like a pictorial. The Portrait of Dr. Gachet deviates from this. It is not a display of attributes. The painting is affective. This means that it shows a relation between the subject and the painter. The subject was relaxed enough to recline and show his emotions. He looks exhausted or resigned from something, and he is conveying it. The table used as a foreground suggests the looker (the painter) might be on the other end. Facts concerning the subject’s relation to Van Gogh came as no surprise. He was said to be unable to help Van Gogh in his depression and is suffering from it as well. (Bertman, 2006) The subject’s relation to the painter is relevant. He was his doctor. And he was with him days before the painter’s death.   The sad and tired look on the doctor’s face symbolizes surrender. The death of Van Gogh came days later. In the Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Van Gogh was painting vulnerability. He was keen to the moment being lived by himself and his subject. D. Judgment The Portrait of Dr. Gachet stirred controversy for the high price it was bought and the mystery of its vanishing. It was auction in 1990 with a bidding that started with $20 million and sealed with $ 82.5 million. A Japanese industrialist kept it in a secret store room. He gained notoriety when he exclaimed in jest that the piece would be cremated with him. After his death, the painting was said to have been sold, but it was no longer seen by the public. The Portrait of Dr. Gachet is controversial not only because it was the painting bought with the highest price for an auction. The very manner of passing it from one collector to another who did not have any interest in sharing it to the public, and not even to view it himself, (Kleiner, 2000)   show how art is a property of the privileged. Its vanishing act sparked further debates on the commodification of art. The common sentiment revolves around the seemingly waste of art because Van Gogh was important to the public. But, the pr ivileged (collector) did not have the intention to give. It seemed their own love of art is a pretension. (Berger, 103) E. Conclusion The Portrait of Dr. Gachet is a portrait of many values. It is a portrait drawn to portray beyond social status. It also described social relations. It is an artwork about perception and emotions. It is an intimate portrait of a man who was supposed to cure the painter. It is significant to all who appreciate Van Gogh. It is also valuable to all who regard art beyond one’s private collection.

Visitng Atlanta Capital of the New South

Visitng Atlanta Capital of the New South Atlanta Capital of the New South Hello Atlanta is the frontline of the New South, with the appeal and classiness of the old days. Home to over 5 million people in the world, it is a city that balances southern heritage with lustrous modernism. There are a lot of peach trees here and the tea is sweetened. This is one of the few cities which can claim to have three skylines and is home to the busiest airport in the world. This city has been destroyed and built up again; the terrors of war and agony of floods and droughts have all been seen by this city. Rebirth and survival, flows within the veins of Atlanta. Host to the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, Atlanta, also is the birthplace of the greatest character in the civil rights movement. Capital city to the state of Georgia, Atlanta has become the persistent leader among American cities. Best Season to visit Atlanta May to August is the best time to visit Atlanta, when you can enjoy outdoor activities and concerts alike. You might also like the days of the spring and fall, if you want to avoid the warm summers. Winter trips are recommended if you want to save some money, as the hotel rates go down and the chilly weather keeps visitors away. Highlights (Special Things to Do in Atlanta) Let your imagination run wild with building blocks at the LEGOLANDÂ ® Discovery Center, located at the Phipps Plaza, Buckhead. Having one of the largest boxes of LEGOÂ ® bricks, kids will love spending the day here. Watch a Broadway play at the Alliance Theatre. This Tony Award Winner, provides a lovely platform for classical plays, musicals and dramas which are presented here much before they are made available at the Big Apple. Scream your lungs out as you take on the Goliath or the Scream Machine, both are gargantuan rides at Six Flags amusement park. At Emorys Michael C. Carlos Museum you can get close with mummies, of the ancient world. With permanent collections from all over the world and popular travelling exhibits on display, the history fanatic in you will be fascinated by everything from Egyptian mummies to Greek relics! Dance or watch a game at the Philips Arena, home to NBA and WNBA teams, the Atlanta Hawks and Dream, the arena rocks all through the year with the world’s best concerts when the games are not on. Take in the view at the Sun Dial Bar View, the only 360 degree rotating restaurant located 72 stories above the Peachtree Street. You can see everything from Georgia Tech to the Stone Mountain and of course, everything in between! Pay homage to the souls of great Atlantans at the Oakland Cemetery. The oldest cemetery here, is the final abode of over 70,000 souls, each accompanied by a fascinating tale to tell. Carry extra bags for all shopping you would end up doing at the Atlantic Station! Whether you are looking for a major retailer or a quirky local boutique, this is the place to be. Get a glimpse of the restored rooms of the Margaret Mitchell House, where the Gone With the Wind was written. You would even find the writer’s desk and original fixtures. Submerge yourself in surround sound, with the Grammy-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and its cast of musicians are here to pamper you to a performance like you would have never seen. Get personal with dinosaurs at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Travel back in time among the Giants of the Mesozoic, some of them are over 120 feet in length! Open the doors of the Oval Office, at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library Museum, you’ll find a replica of the Oval Office along with gifts that were given to him during his time in Whitehouse. Grab a bottle of wine, along with a picnic basket and hit Chastain Park Amphitheatre for a night you will never forget. Gigs at Chastain Park Amphitheatre offer a whole range of options for everyone, from blues and soul to rock and roll. Check out the Twin baby pandas! Mei Lun and Mei Huan, are the most sought after at the Atlanta Zoo. Wander around Piedmont Park, home to the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Lake Clara Meer. Whether you bring your pet for playtime or just a book to read on the grass, the Piedmont Park is a place which gives u lot of options. Hike through the treetops on Sky Hike or backpack to the top of the mountain for beautiful skyline vantage points. Click the world famous graffiti at the Krog Street Tunnel, is a favourite haunt for photographers and graffiti fans alike. Snorkel or SCUBA among the great whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. Hotspots of Atlanta You can check out these places if you are looking for the Atlanta tourist attractions: NE, Atlanta Fox Theatre: Returned back to its original golden look of the 1920s, the theatre features the Mighty Mo, a classic Moller organ, comprising of over 3,600 pipes. Currently hosting Broadway musicals and comedy shows this extravagant theatre also caters to dance companies. Atlanta Botanical Garden: Come into the magical serene world of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, where attractions like the Fuqua Orchid Center take the visitors through rare collections of beautiful orchids never found in nature in this region. Piedmont Park: Home to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, this 185-acre park is popular with joggers and summer festivals are also held here. High Museum of Art: High Museum was the first museum to ever showcase art lent from Paris Louvre and is a lovely place to admire its architecture as well as its exhibits. Ebenezer Baptist Church: The campaign ground for King Jr. and his fore-fathers, all of whom were pastors here. This also is infamous for being the place where his mother was killed back in 1974. Downtown Georgia Aquarium: The sheer beauty of the worlds largest aquarium is hard to deny: beluga whales and whale sharks, theatre shows, where actors/trainers and intelligent bottlenose dolphins perform in tandem is a spectacle not to be missed. World of Coca-Cola: This museum would prove enjoyable to fans of the fizzy drink. The climax of the tour comes with guests sampling Coke products from all over the world. There is also Andy Warhol pieces to see, a 4-D film to watch, company history milestones, and what would look like over 20 billion promotional items. The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: This second oldest building in Atlanta was designed by William H. Parkins, a local architect. Built in 1873 and still in use and has survived the devastating fire that gutted the city in 1864. Buckhead Atlanta History Center: Located on 33 acres in the centre of Buckhead, it is the perfect gateway to Georgia’s past, taking you through award-winning exhibits; Centennial Olympic Games Museum; historic households, including 1928 Swan House and 1860s Smith Family Farm; 22 acres of beautiful gardens and trails; and the Kenan Research Center. Grant Park Oakland Cemetery: Step back in time in at the Oakland Cemetery. This heritage park is the final abode for many Civil War soldiers, the golfing exponent Bobby Jones, and the author of Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell. Poncey – Highland Jimmy Carter Library Museum: The Carter Presidential Library and Museum is an out of this world museum tracking the life and works of President Jimmy Carter, from the time he was a kid in the Plains to the work Mrs. Carter and he do all over the world to promote peace and health. Sitting on a hilltop, it exhibits highlights of Jimmy Carters life during the 1977–81 presidency; The Oval Office replica is a must see. Carters Nobel Prize is also displayed here. And the serene Japanese garden in the back is not to be missed either. Old Fourth Ward Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site: A key attraction, the park draws over 500,000 visitors annually. Explore the house where the leader of the America Civil Rights movement was born, the church where he preached and the memorial site where he is buried. Shopping in Atlanta Atlanta shopping is spread-out all over the city, from antique and outlet centres to boutiques and art galleries. Head to Buckhead for the luxury shopping, you will find all major brands at the Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square Mall. Come across the most happening boutiques in the shopping districts around Virginia Highland and Midtown; for funky vintage items head to Little Five Points. Westside is the place to go to for home goods. Decatur Square – Considered one of the most pedestrian friendly locales, you can randomly walk around the wide spread of shops here. If you need rest between your jaunts, sip a coffee or grab a beer or a cocktail. This place is so versatile that you might as well pick up a book and soak in the sun. Atlantic Station – You might need to carry an extra suitcase for all of the things you would end up picking up here. This spread-out outdoor shopping haven is a place for some serious retail therapy. American Girl Boutique and Bistro – The ultimate daughter’s day out. A doll-shopping heaven, you could find the perfect doll, pick a matching outfit, have a tea party and even let your doll enjoy a day at the salon! Sweet Auburn Curb Market – For local farm produce or meats, also exclusive eateries serving you soul food and gourmet hot dogs or just the good old ice cream, look no more than this farmer’s market with a urban twist. Little Five Points – A place where you can pull off those skinny jeans and flannel shirt, head here for bar hopping and vibrant live performances. Vintage boutique shopping is a must here. How to reach Atlanta By Plane: The Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is located about 8 miles south of the city. The worlds busiest airport, its efficient layout makes it easy to navigate and keeps delays to a minimum. All major cities across all continents are connected from here. By Train: Served by the Amtrak, the Crescent train runs daily and serves most major cities on the eastern belt. Located at 1688 Peachtree St. N.W., The Atlanta Amtrak Station is to the north of city. By Bus: Greyhound Bus Lines provides bus service to Atlanta from many locations throughout the country. The Greyhound terminal at 232 Forsyth Street, located directly below MARTAs Garnett Station. Other bus services such as megabus.com and Bus Bank offer charters buses and can help plan a tour for you or your group. By Car: The Interstate Highway System links Atlanta to the rest of the country. So driving down to the city is a very feasible option. The main interstate highways crossing Atlanta are I-75 (Detroit to Florida), I-85 (Mid-Atlantic to New Orleans) and I-20 (Texas to South Carolina). How to get around in Atlanta By Foot: Touring the city by foot is one of the best ways to see Atlanta. Most neighbourhoods are easy to walk around, with bars, restaurants, and shops being in close vicinity. In particular, walking times would not exceed 10–20 minutes, however buses and trains are recommended for longer jaunts. By Transit: MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) operates both rapid rail and bus networks in the city of Atlanta and the neighbouring counties, Fulton and Dekalb. Comprising of four lines: Red, Gold, Blue, and Green; where the Red and Gold lines run north-south, while the Blue and Green lines run east-west, meeting at the Five Points Station. With over one hundred different bus routes, Bus service runs from 5AM until 1:30AM Monday-Friday and on the weekends or holidays they run all day. By Taxi: Booking taxis is recommended, however it is possible to flag taxicabs down near tourist locations and watering holes in Downtown and Midtown. 24-Hour Taxicab Services: Checker Cab Atlanta Royal Cabbies Fixed rates are available for Airport runs, insist on it even if the cabbie denies knowledge of the same. By Car: All major car rental service is available around Atlanta. Cars are considered the most efficient way to move around the city in case you have to visit a lot of places. However do look out for peak hour traffic. Top areas in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport If you are a business traveller and prefer to be located close to the busiest airport in the world, then the area around the Hartsfield-Jackson has a lot of hotel options to spend a night or more. You can find midrange to budget hotels to suit your needs. Midtown – The second largest business district in Atlanta, situated between Downtown and Buckhead, Attracts over six million visitors every year. Marked for its cultural attractions, institutions of higher education, Midtown is also noteworthy for its architecture, and urban layout. Atlanta Hotels in Midtown are mostly high-end. Pine Hills – Located to the east of Buckhead, the region is abundant of plant life. Its tall trees, such as the pine, oak and maple are home to a wide variety of animals such as chipmunks, squirrels and a variety of birds. Quite a few mid-range hotels can be found here. Sandy Springs – Even though Sandy Springs is a separate area it extends into the city limits. Most of this region is affluent and is very scenic, with mansions on single-lane roads. You can find cheap Atlanta accommodation deals in this location. Buckhead – Known for its nightlife, Buckhead Village has transferred into Buckhead Atlanta, with plenty of shopping options with Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square near here. Buckhead even has its own skyline of high-rise apartments/condominiums and office buildings. You will also find hotels across the range in this area.

All Quiet On The Western Front :: essays research papers

Decline of Morality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque shows that war destroys more than just the physical level; the decline of morality has taken place through various circumstances in the novel such as: then incident where Paul Baumer is forced to kill a soldier in a shell hole, when Paul lies to his mother and the mother of his dead friend Kemmerich and when Paul and Kat must beat a recruit unconscious to stop him from leaving the trench; these incidents can be compared to events in the 1990’s such as: rise in the abortion rate, Columbine High School shootings, and the incident between President Clinton and Monica Lewinski.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Chapter 7 Paul is granted a leave from his duties for about a month and in this time he plans on going home and visiting his family. When he arrives his mother asks him questions about how he is and about the war. More specifically she asks, â€Å"Was it very bad out there, Paul?† He thinks to himself how that is a bad question and that nobody realizes how bad the soldiers actually have so he is forced to lie. He says â€Å"No, Mother, not so very. There are always a lot of us together so it isn’t so bad.† Here the author proves that the war forces some to lie to their parents whom they have always been honest with and this demonstrates the decline of family life that the war causes. Later in the chapter he goes to visit the mother of his dead friend, Kemmerich. While there he tells her that he died instantly and she doesn’t believe him, â€Å"You lie. I know better. I have felt his anguish-tell the truth, I want to know it, I must know it.†(159) He again lies to her, â€Å"No, I was beside him. He died at once† (159). But yet she tells him, â€Å"I know you want to comfort me, but don’t you see, you torment me far more than if you told me the truth? I cannot bear the uncertainty† (159). He sticks to his story telling her, â€Å"He died immediately. He felt absolutely nothing at all. His face was quite calm† (160). Again this incident shows that war has a major affect on family life, if he is able to lie to his mother about the war easily, that makes it easier for him to lie to Mrs. Kemmerich about her son. These incidents can be most closely related to the confrontation involving the President

Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay -- Education Teaching Teachers Ess

Teaching Philosophy Statement â€Å"Teaching is not a profession; it’s a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your students to learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher and failure is not an option.† –John F. Podojil. In my opinion, this quotation is very true. If you do not have the passion to teach your students what is right in the world and what makes them be the best they can be, then you are not really teaching your students or you have failed and failure is not an option. I want to not only teach my students important subject manner but be an inspiration to my students as well. I want to be the teacher that students will come back to in ten or fifteen years and say, â€Å"You have inspired me in more ways than one. Not only did you inspire me to be a better person, but you inspired me to do better academically as well.† This is when I know for sure that I have made a difference in a child’s life. If I can have an impact on one child’s life, then I feel that I have fulfilled my duties as a teacher. One of the major influences that pushed me towards a career in teaching is that that I will impact a child’s life in more than one way. As a student’s teacher you are their role model and I feel that I will make a very acceptable role model to most if not all of my students. I have talked to my past teachers about the â€Å"role model† topic. Most people find it odd that I do not want to teach higher grades; such as a high school class for instance, just because of the fact that not many males want to teach in the early elementary grades. I feel that as a teacher I will be a father figure to the boys and girls in the classroom that are from single mother... ...duty not to wait for someone else to help change the world, one person at a time. Students are the world’s future and how we influence our students will impact the world as we know it forever. From my standpoint, we can have a bunch of people grow up to be criminals or we can have most of our population become good citizens just by teaching them the difference between what is right and wrong in our world and society today. Teaching is not just standing up in front of a classroom full of students and teaching them a pre-planned lesson plan; you’re influencing the way they feel about themselves and the world. One of my teachers had a magnet on her desk that said, â€Å"Teachers make a world of difference!† I feel this quotation is right; teachers do make a world of difference and I have seen it happen in classrooms here and throughout the world; I plan to do the same.

The New Normal Challenges Societal Issues

Ryan Murphy is known for his ability to keep things interesting, and in his new sitcom The New Normal he has not fallen short on that expectations. In this series Bryan and David, a happy gay couple living in L. A. with respectable jobs, seem to have everything except for the one thing they want most, a child. The couple hires Goldie, a young mother who had just left her adulterous husband in Ohio and ran away to L. A. with daughter, Shania, to start over and forget her old life, to be a surrogate mother for them.Jane, Goldie's conservative and overly bigoted grandmother, follows them against her granddaughter's wishes, causing an uproar in Goldie’s new life in the city because she is so disproving of Goldie’s decision to be a surrogate and Bryan and David’s lifestyle. Immediately after airing in September of 2012, the show was criticized tremendously. The people of the broadcasting network in Salt Lake City, Utah were so offended by the show that they went on to ban the show from their show time schedule. NBC Utah affiliate KSL-TV, the network which banned the show from airing in Utah, says that the show was â€Å"inappropriate on several dimensions. They went on to say that the dialogue was excessively rude and crude and the scenes were too explicit and the characterizations seem offensive. KSL-TV also insist that it challenges traditional family values and portrays bad role models. The trouble the show experienced from attempting to air in Utah was not the only trouble the show had endured. In July, before the show aired, One Million Moms publicly announced that they would be boycotting the show for being harmful to our society, accusing the dialogue of being too offensive.Many members of the gay community also claimed to be boycotting the show for portraying offensive stereotypes of homosexuals. I must admit that I can see how the dialogue seems excessively crude and offensive. For example, in the pilot alone Jane uses the offensive ph rases; â€Å"gay peacocks†, â€Å"ass campers†, â€Å"Jewed done the cost†, and â€Å"salami smokers†. It’s easy to see how people could take her bigoted words offensively. It’s obvious from her first scene in the show that her prejudices are very overzealous and over the top but that is precisely the point.Nana seems as a nasty, hateful woman who has a potty mouth that anyone with a moral conscience would not want to replicate. Jane is used to show a societal problem in America today. A discussion of her behavior through the show should be of interest to more than just the fans and critics. Beyond these limited audiences, Nana is relevant to everyone in America because her bigotry was used by Ryan Murphy to display a nasty problem in our nation today. Her prejudice towards everyone that surrounds her is a mockery of many bigoted minds of Americans.Indeed, it does seem excessive, but Murphy wanted to make sure the point of how offensive and wrong this behavior is was clear. While I see how this crass behavior and crude dialogue is inappropriate for children, the show is a somewhat late night sitcom with a target audience of adults. As adults who have experienced shows with far worse dialogues such as Jersey Shore, we should be able to stomach the harmless dialogue of The New Normal especially when there is such an important point behind it. Shows like Jersey Shore aren’t refused to air because of their horrible dialogues because of Americans’ love for their trash TV.I believe that point shows that the problem with this show is truly just bigotry towards gay couples having children not the dialogue, which is Murphy’s entire point of making this show. It’s not just about entertaining television, it’s about making a stance on the problematic issue in America of bigotry and prejudice. The complaints given to show that it challenges family values seems to stem from the fact that it isnâ₠¬â„¢t a traditional nuclear family that is headed by a man and woman. Many happen to have a major issue with gay couples creating a family. However, the show proves that the couple holds family values.Firstly and most importantly they know and show how much they will love and provide for their child. They also show many other important family values and attributes. For example Bryan shows what a great father he will be and the confidence he will instill in his child in the second episode â€Å"Sofa’s Choice† when he talks to Shania because she’s having trouble fitting in at her new school. Shania says â€Å"Those kids don’t get me at all† Bryan replies â€Å"When I was in school no one got me either. This might be hard to believe Shania but I didn’t always fit in like I do now.I always felt different just like you† Shania shouts â€Å"Bryan I’m a weirdo and I don’t want to be. I just want to be normal. † Bryan mat ter-of-factly says â€Å"That’s a stupid short sided wish. † Bryan then moves to the couch to sit beside Shania and puts his arm around her comfortingly and says â€Å"You don’t know this yet, but the most unique parts of you are also the ones that lead you to greatness. † Shania says â€Å"How come you get me but my own mom doesn’t? † Bryan says â€Å"Your mom may not completely get you, but she lets you be who you are and she loves you for it, and that’s what makes her a great mom.Don’t be afraid to be who you are, Shania because you’re spectacular. † This shows how supportive and problem solving he can be as a dad but also shows that he thinks it is very important for children to be accepted and loved no matter who they are and that they know it’s wonderful to be the person they are no matter what anyone else says. In the episode â€Å"Stay-at-home Dad† David and Bryan decide to send Goldie on a s pa vacation and request to babysit Shania while she is gone because they want to experience and prepare for being stay at home dads.While Goldie is gone David takes off time from his very important job as a doctor to wake up early to make her breakfast and study before taking her to school. This is an example of how he will be a responsible dad who will compromise the job he loves to take care of his kid. These are the family values and concern you must have for your children in order to be great parents, and while David and Bryan don’t have everything about parenting figured out ,because no one does before having children, they have the mindset, love, and values that can potentially make great parents.While the show does show some unexpected characters and a family with an unusual dynamic it is in no way lacking great role models. While the adult characters in no way lack their fair share of dysfunction they are also great role models for America and for the young girl in th e show Shania. The excerpt from the beginning of the previous paragraph is also a great example of how Bryan is an exceptional role model for Shania. Goldie while often times seems to act on a whim is a great role model.In the same episode Bryan and David decide that they want Goldie and Shania to live in their luxurious guest house instead of their frumpy little house. Goldie turns the house down because she didn’t earn it and she wants to be a successful independent woman to give her daughter a great example so that one day she can become one as well. The most confrontational adult in the show is Nana, Jane. While her bigotry is repulsive she does not lack other admirable qualities.Despite her overzealous prejudice that seems to constantly be spewing from her mouth, she is a strong independent woman and a great grandmother. When Goldie and Shania run away to California, Nana follows them and decides to stay even though she is disproving of Goldie’s decision and Bryan and David’s lifestyle because she cannot stand the thought of not being there to spend time with and protect her family. Nana also raised Goldie from eight years old when her daughter decided she didn’t want to and ran away. She also housed Goldie and Shania up until they ran away to California.All of those attributes are wonderful to have, but the most important is that she has always been there for her family no matter what. Which Goldie admits in the episode â€Å"The Para-New Normal†, the Halloween episode, after an argument they’ve had about Goldie moving back to Ohio. Goldie says â€Å"God Nana, sometimes you make me so crazy, you know that? The things you say. † Nana replies â€Å"I am what I am, I’m not about to change now. † Goldie recedes â€Å"Well, then I guess I need to remember that. When I saw you trick-or-treating tonight, the way you were with Shania.It made me think. You are the one person who has always been there for me. The only one actually. † Goldie goes on to remember when her Nana took her trick-or-treating every year when she was young because her mother wasn’t there. â€Å"I like to think that I’m a good mom, Nana, but I didn’t learn that from my mom. I learned it from you. Thank you for always being there for us. † Nana responds â€Å"Well, I couldn’t just leave you. † â€Å"Well of course you could have, but you didn’t. And even now that I’m all grown up with people and choices that you don’t understand still†¦. ou still haven’t left. † It may have taken Goldie a long time to realize it but her Nana is a great role model for her and in many of the same ways is for America. Even the child in this show is a great role model because she learns to be proud of who she is with the help of the adults around her and doesn’t try to hide her quirky ways which is a great thing to show America, becau se no one should ever be ashamed of who they are. Many people see The New Normal’s message to be that the new normal of families in America will be led by a gay couple.This however, is a misunderstanding. The New Normal’s message is that no matter how untraditional a family is it is still a family with the same amount of love and values as traditional families. In the pilot this was made clear by giving examples of many other untraditional families. It showed a midget woman who married a man of normal height and had a daughter who was 6 years old and almost taller than her mother, a single mom of two twin toddlers who was much older than most new mothers; in fact, she looks old enough to be their grandmother.They even go as far to mention examples from pop culture today such as Barack Obama and Mariah Carey, who were both raised by what Bryan refers to as â€Å"half-rican American† Grandmothers. When the show says â€Å"abnormal in the new normal† it is n ot to say that families led by gay couples in the only new normal but that none of these untraditional families should be seen as anything less than the average traditional family. The New Normal defies stereotypes in many different ways. Although the show does show one of the gay men as a very effeminate male, Bryan.Which is why I can understand why many people in the gay community show offense as they see this as portrayal of a stereotypical gay men. However Bryan’s character is meant to portray the writer of The New Normal, Ryan Murphy. I think the character is important to show that effeminate males do exists and to show Ryan Murphy’s side of things and how the bigotry of others has affected him. Murphy saw it was important to show his own personal experiences in the show which is why he decided to create a character based on himself.It is not as if the show portrays all gay men to be effeminate. Bryan’s partner, David, is a gay man who is the average guyâ⠂¬â„¢s guy with no interest in fashion, and the many other favored interest of his partner, the â€Å"stereotypical gay man. † David is a doctor who loves to watch football and play sports. While the show does show someone who does fit a stereotype, David’s character defies said stereotype because he is a gay man who this prejudice doesn’t apply to. The show also defies the common stereotype that all black people are content with being bottom feeders of society.Rocky, Bryan’s assistant, is a very accomplished black woman with very high aspirations and goals. She has come a long way from where she grew up in an impoverished home to become an assistant for a producer of a very famous TV show. She is an example of a much empowered black woman who has worked very hard to be successful. Though The New Normal is just a TV show, it provides a lens through which we can examine the societal problems of bigotry and prejudice. Indeed, many problems such as the way p eople throughout the show treat David and Bryan as if they are less than their equal in the show can be seen in real life.For example, many people in America today have shown their disapproval of homosexuals by not only denying them adoption and marriage equality but by going as far as committing hate crimes against them. But the prejudice in the show and in real life doesn’t stop there; it is directed at anyone who is different by race, sexuality, living conditions, and plenty of others thing. The point of this show is to show people that we are all humans with flaws and great qualities and that everyone should be treated equally. We do live in the land of the free after all.

Criminal Sentencing Essay

A basic question in criminal sentencing is â€Å"What are the purposes of criminal sentencing?†Ã‚   Scholars, too, reflect on the purposes of punishment. There are commonly four identified purposes: Retribution. The oldest but considered the most important purpose for sentencing is retribution, that is, inflicting on an offender suffering comparable to that caused by the offense. An act of social vengeance, retribution is grounded in a view of society as a system of moral balance.   When criminality upsets this balance, punishment exacted in comparable measure restores the moral order, as suggested in the biblical dictum â€Å"An eye for an eye.† While contemporary critics of retribution sometimes charge that this policy lacks the force to reform the offender, it still remains a strong justification for punishment. A second purpose for sentencing, deterrence amounts to the attempt to discourage criminality through punishment.   Initially, deterrence arose as the banner of reformers seeking to end what they saw as excessive punishments based on retribution.   Critics asked, â€Å"Why put someone to death for stealing if that crime could be discouraged with a prison sentence?†Ã‚   As the concept of deterrence in sentencing gained widespread acceptance, execution and physical mutilation of criminals were gradually replaced by milder forms of punishment such as imprisonment.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are two types of deterrence, specific deterrence demonstrates to the   individual offender that crime does not pay while in general deterrence, the  punishment of one person serves as an example to others. Rehabilitation. The third purpose for sentencing, rehabilitation, involves reforming the offender to preclude subsequent offenses.   It resembles deterrence by motivating the offender to conform.   But rehabilitation emphasizes constructive improvement while deterrence and retribution make the offender suffer.   In addition, while retribution demands that the punishment fit the crime, rehabilitation focuses on the distinctive problems of each offender.   Thus identical offenses would call for similar acts of retribution but different programs of rehabilitation. Social protection. A final purpose for sentencing is social protection, or rendering an offender incapable of further offenses either temporarily through incarceration or permanently by execution. Like deterrence, social protection is a rational approach to punishment and seeks to protect society from crime.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The different forms of sentencing used in different jurisdictions include institutional sanctions—time to be served in prison or jail; and noninstitutional sanctions—fines and forfeiture of the proceeds of crime, and service of the sentence in the community in the form of probation or parole. Recently the arsenal of punishments has been considerably enlarged by the creation of mixed sanctions and alternatives to either institutional or noninstitutional sanctions. The following are the variety of options for sentencing: Death penalty. In thirty-six states (as well as the federal courts), courts may impose a sentence of death for any offense designated a capital crime, for example, first-degree murder. Incarceration. The defendant may be sentenced to serve a term in a local jail, state prison, or federal prison. Probation. The defendant may be sentenced to a period of probationary supervision   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   within the community. Split sentence. A judge may split the sentence between a period of incarceration and a period of probation. Restitution. An offender may be required to provide financial reimbursement to cover the cost of a victim’s losses. Community service. An offender may be required to spend a period of time performing public service work. Fine. An offender may be required to pay a certain sum of money as a penalty and/or as an alternative to or in conjunction with incarceration. This leads us to the next question, â€Å"What are some reforms that have been proposed? A recent reform growing out of the victims’ rights movement in the sentencing process is the consideration of statements by the victim, known as â€Å"victim impact statements† (VIS). Twenty-six states have mandated the use of VIS in criminal cases, while another twenty-two states have adopted so-called â€Å"victim bills of rights† that include recognition of the right of a victim to present a VIS. In the VIS, the victim provides a statement about the extent of economic, physical, or psychological harm suffered as a result of the victimization. The victim also can make a recommendation about the type of sentence an offender should receive. Usually the VIS is incorporated into the pre-sentence investigation report written by the probation officer. Research has revealed that a judge’s choice of a sentence is influenced much more by legal considerations than by victim preferences in cases where VIS has been presented (McGarrell, 1999). The third reform proposal is â€Å"restorative justice.† Restorative justice has been a feature of justice systems for a long time, though it was little used until a group of criminologists in the United States and the Commonwealth countries brought the idea back to life. The term restorative justice was virtually unknown a decade ago, and it is still in search of a commonly accepted meaning. Yet, the literature related to this subject has grown rapidly, so that we venture to define it in terms offered by Howard Zehr, published in a symposium of The Justice Professional, entitled â€Å"Criminology as Peacemaking.† Zehr provides contrasting paradigms between the traditional, retributive sense of justice and the newly emerging (or reemerging) restorative sense of justice.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If the proposed reform of restorative justice were adopted, where would that leave us with respect to the traditional â€Å"aims† or â€Å"justifications† of criminal justice? As to retribution (or just desserts), we would still be limited to never imposing an obligation (sanction) that outweighs the harm done. As to incapacitation, even the staunchest advocates of restorative justice recognize that some offenders are far too dangerous to be returned to the community and that their separation from the community is necessary. But the prison population could be vastly reduced. As to resocialization or rehabilitation, the very idea is built into restorative justice, which aims at   Ã‚  restoring the community. Some of the current issues in federal sentencing according to the U.S. Sentencing Commission at https://www.ussc.gov. are the following: The issue on the amendment pertaining to offenses involving cocaine base (â€Å"crack†) and the amendment pertaining to certain criminal history rules, see 72 FR 28558 (May   21, 2007); 72 FR 51882 (September 11, 2007), should be applied retroactively to previously sentenced defendants. The issue of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the and the United States Sentencing Commission has decided to establish a standing victim’s advisory group pursuant to   28 U.S.C.  § 995 and Rule 5.4 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. It was stated that the purpose of the advisory group is (1) to assist the Commission in carrying out its statutory responsibilities under 28 U.S.C.  § 994(o); (2) to provide the Commission its views on the Commission’s activities as they relate to victims of crime; (3) to   disseminate information regarding sentencing issues to organizations represented by the   Ã‚  advisory group and to other victims of crime and victims advocacy groups, as appropriate; and (4) to perform any other functions related to victims of crime as the Commission requests. The victims’ advisory group will consist of not more than 9 members, each of whom may serve not more than two consecutive 3-year terms. The issue on New York’s Rockefeller laws to curb the drug trade – which directly contributed to a dramatic increase in the state’s prison population costing the state millions of dollars, but failing to impact drug trafficking. According to a New York   Times editorial, â€Å"New York has made incremental changes to the Rockefeller laws in recent years, but has stopped short of restoring judicial discretion.† A governor-appointed commission charged with studying state sentencing practices, however, has produced a report calling for the end of â€Å"indeterminate sentencing† – the process by which a judge imposes a minimum and a maximum sentence and the Parole Board decides when to release an offender. It further suggests that nonviolent offenders be considered for community-based treatment instead of prison. Finally, Gov. Elliot Spitzer’s commission recommends restoring prison-based educational and training programs as a means of helping to lower recidivism rates. The website of the Sentencing Project at http://www.sentencingproject.org. mission is to promote reforms in sentencing law and practice, and alternatives to incarceration through their advocacy and research. Moreover, the Sentencing Project provides defense lawyers with sentencing advocacy training and to reduce the reliance on incarceration. Hence, the Sentencing Project has become the leader in the effort to bring national attention to disturbing trends and inequities in the criminal justice system with a successful formula that includes the publication of groundbreaking research, aggressive media campaigns and strategic advocacy for policy reform. As a result of The Sentencing Project’s research, publications and advocacy, many people know that this country is the world’s leader in incarceration, that one in three young black men is under control of the criminal justice system, that five million Americans can’t vote because of felony convictions, and that thousands of women and children have lost welfare, education and housing benefits as the result of convictions for minor drug offenses.   Thus, the Sentencing Project is dedicated to changing the way Americans think about crime and punishment which coincide with the interests of the National Association of Sentencing Advocates. References   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   McGarrell, E.F. Restorative Justice Conferences.   Indianapolis, IN: Hudson Institute, 1999; Edmund F. McGarrell, â€Å"Cutting Crime through Police-Citizen Cooperation,† American Outlook, Spring 1998, pp. 65–67. The Sentencing Project at http://www.sentencingproject.org. U.S. Sentencing Commission Available at https://www.ussc.gov. Zehr, H.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Justice as Restoration, Justice as Respect,†The Justice Professional 11,   Ã‚  Ã‚   nos. 1–2 (1998), pp. 71–87.