A Myth as a Set of Rules

Introduction A myth is the hidden set of rules, codes, and conventions through which meanings, which are in reality specific to certain groups, are rendered universal and given for a whole society. Religion, social class, and the economy are three major areas in which myths do exist (Morford Lenardon, 2006). This paper identifies the common myths that exist in these three major areas and describes the reason why the myths exist and the purpose they serve.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Myth as a Set of Rules specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A common myth about social class, especially in developed economies, is that every citizen has an equal chance to succeed. This is also known as the fair play idea of equality. The idea is regarded as a myth because it does not represent reality in the society. The factors that play a significant role in determining the chances of people’s success do not create the sense of equality presented by the myth. The factors determining individual prospects include education, health, and income among others. These factors are not equally distributed among people in a society therefore making the myth not a reality. However, the myth serves the role of helping people to believe in themselves and to work hard in order to succeed in life. One does not necessarily have to attain a certain level of education in order to succeed in life. A common myth about the economy, especially in rich nations, is that when the government imposes heavy taxes on wealthy citizens, the economy will be hurt. It is a myth because most of the people who tend to believe it think that it is unfair to be biased on wealthy people. For instance, people who earn more than $200000 in a year have to pay an extra 5% tax on the income that is above the $200000. Paying the extra tax will not hurt the economy in any way. If these individuals do not pay the extra tax, they will still end u p using the money for things such as vacations, jewelries, and cars. However, if the money is given to the government, it can be used to support the welfare of citizens through building infrastructure and improving social amenities such as health and education. The myth therefore does not serve any significant purpose but is used to argue against the biasness against rich people. In Christian religion, a common myth that I have noticed is that people normally believe that once they accept Jesus in their lives, their past, present, and future sins are forgiven. This has an implication that sinning is acceptable because the sins are forgiven. Such a belief is a myth because the bible, on several occasions, has emphasized on the notion that Christians have to be perfect since God is perfect. It is therefore imperative for Christians to strive to live sinless lives. The myth serves the purpose of giving people the ‘green light’ to continue sinning because human beings in th eir canal forms can never be perfect.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion In the current modern society, it is believed that people are becoming more secular by distancing themselves from religion. This belief is based on the current trends of compromise from religious stands witnessed in the society. It is believed that making money has become the primary goal of life and that God does not have any relevance in the society today. This is likely to become a myth in the future because the belief is propagated by influential people who inspire the young generation. However, it will remain a myth because the relevance of God in issues affecting people cannot be ignored. Reference Morford, M., Lenardon, L. (2006). Classical Mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. This essay on A Myth as a Set of Rules was written and submitted by user Obad1ahStane to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

unions essays

unions essays Concerned workers who wanted to defend themselves from exploitation and improve their lifestyle formed trade unions. They do this by assisting them in maintaining and improving the wage rates During the fifties and sixties, trade union membership was at its peak. In 1960 union membership represented around 52% of the workforce. In the past few decades, membership has been significantly declining; with 57% in 1985, 54% in 1990 and 33% in 1995. Australia does have higher union membership compared to the rest of the world, but there is a marked decline acceleration of union membership. There are abundant issues that are causing membership decline in most trade unions in Australia. These issues include the changing composition of the workforce, fewer large employers in traditional industries (that have had strong union membership), a smaller public sector, an increase in people employed in the service sector (that have had weak union membership), greater numbers of small to medium size enterprises, increasing numbers of workers in part-time and casual employment, an increase in women in the workforce and government legislation discouraging the union movement. Trade unions have made changes to the union movement and the way they work, however the press has continued to present negative coverage of trade unions to the general population. All these reasons, which are discussed below, cause a negative change in peoples attitudes towards trade unions. Unions believe that the Federal, State and Territory levels of government are making laws with aims to reduce the union movement in Australia, consequently causing serious damage to trade unions. This is true in which the legislation being introduced by the government attempts to minimise the role that t...

Car is dangerous Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Car is dangerous - Essay Example Most of these cases occur once children are left alone in a hot car. Is happens sometimes when the attendant forgets that there were children in the car or when children get into cars without the knowledge of any adult. Within a few minutes the children can be in danger (Heat danger in cars: not just a summer problem, 2012). In some instances, parents do not like taking their children in and out of that cumbersome car seat. This is when they argue that they are making a quick belief stop. However, the stakes are very high. According to Christopher McStay, MD who is an emergency room doctor, it is never okay to leave children or pets in a car even when the windows are left down. He says that he has witnessed his share of casualties in the emergency room. According to him, a car is a greenhouse and the temperatures can become very hot in a very short time (Heat danger in cars: not just a summer problem, 2012). According to scientists, on a day that is only 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature in a car may rise by 30 or to 40 degrees within an hour, and more than 70 percent of this increase happens within the first 30 minutes (Grundstein, Dowd & Meentemeyer, 2012). They say that there may be heat stroke which may happen once the body temperature exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit. That results to the irresistible temperature of the brain causing dizziness, confusion, agitation, seizure, sluggishness and loss of consciousness or even death (Grundstein, Dowd & Meentemeyer, 2012). The National Highway traffic Safety Administration advises that when one happens to see a child left alone in hot car, the person should call 911 right away. And incase the child is in distress because of heat, they should be removed from the car as fast as possible (Musso, 2014). According to doctors, it is unfortunate that some child carriers make it difficult to know if there is a child in the seat because

Tour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tour - Essay Example Nowadays money is flowing into this business. To promote tours and travels, government and private companies are delivering different types of packages. Objectives like Festivals, Meeting and Events (FME) are playing an important role to promote tourism. London is the capital city of England. Because of its geographical structure travellers and business persons are coming to this place regularly. London is good for business like travel and tourism. Festivals are delivering high entertainment to people. I would like to organize festivals to promote tourism business in London. Generally, festivals and events attract people. As the major stakeholders in such activities realise the significant economic benefits of holding festivals, meetings and events. Tourism is a long term business. So stakeholders have to take enough responsibility when organizing and managing FME's. London is the safe bet for the stake holders. Why do we invest money to organise festivals or events to promote tourism business The reason is that it is totally a business programme. As far as I am concerned Travel and tourism industry is one of the world's largest foreign exchange earners. It is a very wide industry linked with so many areas which include government tourism department, travel agencies, hotels etc. Government tourism departments are associated with immigration and customs service. Many other departments are linked with travel agencies. Airlines, tour operators, hotels etc. are depending on travel agencies. This industry provides large number of employment directly and indirectly. Travel can be of different types. It can be leisure, pilgrim, adventure or purely business trips. In London, there are lot of things to see like London Eye, London Pass, and Madame Tussauds etc. London Eye is a giant wheel which provides you to see every tall building in London at once. This is one of the most attractions in London. M adame Tussauds is a wax museum where all cult figures like (Charlie Chaplin, Amithab Bachan, Tom cruise etc.) made by wax materials are exhibited. Travellers are coming to visit this place regularly. (Visit Britain direct). With the increase in visitors most travel promoters and companies are earning good revenue. This is a booming industry which offers good returns to the investors. With the increase of travellers, lots of people are investing their money in travel and tourism Industry. London is known as multicultural city. There are so many cultural and social programmes conducted in London. People of London gather together and celebrate social programmes like New-year Day, Good Friday, Easter Day, May Day, Christmas, Boxing Day etc. There are numerous festivals and events in London. Events like Wimbledon, FA cup football, Chelsea flower show, London Marathon, the queen's birthday parade, Europe's biggest and gay and lesbian festival, Notting hill carnival, Thames festivals, are attracting visitors to London. People of London celebrate plenty of bonfire festivals. Guy Hawks Night, Lord Mayor's show and Trafalgar Square are celebrated with bands and fireworks. Now we are planning to conduct festival

Correlational Methods (M5C) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Correlational Methods (M5C) - Essay Example The study found minimal, though barely statistically significant, influences, but these factors were paradoxical: Working more hours was associated with some cognitive development and academic scores before 9 and 7, respectively, but failed to have an effect afterwards and did not have any effect on behavior problems, compliance or self-esteem. The study also included that early parent employment was beneficial for single mothers or lower-income families due to raised income. Though not strictly a confounding variable, it is important to note that the study assumes the factual world where these women were employed. While the study compares to similar mothers who aren't employed, the assumption is problematic. Might employment have been the best possible option for these mothers? It is wholly possible that, in a counter-factual world where these particular women weren't working, their children's outcomes would have been the same or worse. One possible confounding variable might be agi ng and the school system. It's likely that the fact that negative effects stopped after age 9 has to do not with working or not working but with increased independence at that age in the first place.

Outline Of Critique Of W E B Dubois History Essay

Outline Of Critique Of W E B Dubois History Essay W.E.B. DuBois, is one of the greatest African American thinkers, oraters and writers of history. His works are often bold assassinations of the development of the Black, former slave class in the US, through periods were they repeatedly faced bold and subtle racism but were simultaneously expected to be successful, because laws were, better than they used to be. DuBois work The Souls of Black Folk, though constituent of several divergent essays is to many the source and center of nearly all his messages regarding the truth telling that needs to be done, in history to properly place the plight of Blacks into the context and even to some extent the present. According to the editor of the W.E.B. DuBois reader, which republished the whole of The Souls of Black Folks in its pages the works purpose is;to transcend the pain and liabilities of the past while remembering and restoring the power of the African American heritage- and this theme, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦runs throughout The Souls of Black Folk. No work before or since has met the challenge so well. (Sundquist 99) Summary As was stated in the introduction The Souls of Black Folk,consists of several thematic essays regarding the position and reality of black life through its history in the US. Each work discusses a theme of necessary report and honesty. According to DuBois himself, in his forethought to his collection he ..sought here to sketch, in vague, uncertain outline, the spiritual world in which ten thousand thousand Americans live and strive. (DuBois 100) The first two essays discuss the meaning of emancipating to blacks, and its aftermath. The third chapter deals with the relatively slow progress of personal leadership, criticizing heavily the president of the Tuskegee Institute, for capitulating to the idea that trade skills rather than intellectual development is the necessary next step in the development of blacks. In two additional chapters he juxtaposes the world of blacks in and outside what he calls the veil i.e. the black world and black men in the white world, and dealing specifically with how such a color line as it exists could realistically train black men to live productive lives. He then covers black poverty in two chapters and closes with a chapter on what he calls the, present relations of the sons of master and man. (Dubois 100) Black Spirituals as Thematic Introductions It as been pointed out by many that Dubois use of black spirituals to open the themes of his essays was masterful in several ways, in part because it sets the tone for how the theme to be discussed realistically played a part in the lives of blacks, as such spirituals were often the only form of mass communication available to black men and women during large periods of their history in the US. Additionally, he has been praised for their use because they cannot be found anywhere else, as an oral tradition, forced by the illegality and if not then the unconventional allowance of literacy among blacks. The black spiritual loses is power as those who have used it to communicate joy and woe begin to die off, as with all other oral traditions, the death of people often marks the death of tradition, if such tradition is not communicated effectively to the next generation. This loss, is substantial and in some ways DuBois purpose is to stress the deeper meanings of these spirituals by intel lectual and political discussion, that he as an educated African American can do. Most importantly an educated African American man, who unlike Washington, was willing to tell the truth, rather than capitulate to the standards of white society, in his beliefs assertions and expectations of his brethren. A foundational example, and theme that pervades the work can be seen in the spiritual he uses to introduce the theme of chapter 2, Of the Dawn of Freedom. Careless seems the great Avenger;/Historys lessons but record/One death-grapple in the darkness/Twixt old systems and the Word;/Truth forever on the scaffold,/Wrong forever on the throne; (DuBois 107) The chapter stresses the extreme juxtaposition of legal emancipation, following his first chapter which discusses the great hope that emancipation and freedom would be real, and the lack of real systems to allow for the development of black men and women that follow it. DuBois makes clear that the hope was met with constant dashing, a s the reality of the world of blacks was constantly stunted by traditions, fear and racially motivated systems that still barred blacks from success and the expression of free will. Truth Telling There is no better chapter to discuss with regard to truth telling in DuBois work that that which adamantly attacks Booker T. Washington. Washington, in the eyes of many whites (and even some blacks) had the most logical and rational response to the development of blacks in society. These men and women would need to be trained to do work, work that is demonstrative of their previous restricted options. Washington believed that the black race would be most successful if instead of fighting for the right to hold positions and vocations that had been previously reserved only for the majority, they would seek to work with their hands and train to make those works more productive. To DuBois and other intellectuals this was an assault on blacks as it continued to stress that their abilities were less than those of whites and perpetuated the idea that most blacks would not be able to hold real positions of vocational power, such as those achieved through traditional white only higher educat ion. DuBois stresses that Washingtons capitulation, offering one of the only advanced education options for blacks as a trade school, that did not stress the need to develop intellectually was paramount to supporting white society, as blacks had always done. The Tuskegee institute did not train the first round of black attorneys, doctors, professors, entrepreneurs or anything like them it continued to train blacks to provide services to whites, only to do it more scientifically and better. Not only that but Washington came to a position of influence precisely at time when it might have been possible to begin to offer blacks better options than trade training and yet he chose to capitulate, and as the only scale offering of any advanced education to blacks his school succeeded and his ideology of a, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦programme of industrial education, conciliation of the South, and submission and silence as to civil and political rights, was supported. (DuBois 122) DuBois, chose to chal lenge Washington, who was seen by many as one of if not the most important black man of his time as a capitulator who chose to teach complacency over change. This is not DuBois telling a wrongful truth of the white race, it is him attacking a man of his own race for buying and selling the black man limitations rather than real fruits of freedom. In Washingtons own words there is a tell tale truth to Dubois frustration, with him and others who would continue to hold freed black men and women to standards that were not inclusive of their real abilities to progress. In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeedthere is but one for a race. This country demands that every race shall measure itself by the American standard. By it a race must rise or fall, succeed or fail, and in the last analysis mere sentiment counts for little. During the next half century and more, my race must continue passing through the severe American crucible. We are to be tested in our patience, our forbearance, our perseverance, our power to endure wrong, to withstand temptations, to economize, to acquire and use skill; in our ability to compete, to succeed in commerce, to disregard the superficial for the real, the appearance for the substance, to be great and yet small, learned and yet simple, high and yet the servant of all. This, this is the passport to all that is best in the life of our republic, and the Negro must possess it, or be debarred. (Denton 189) According to Washington, Negroes in America must face the reality of the American system, work within it and stop or refrain from seeking higher (unreal) answers to their options to succeed. Washington believed that there would be a time when challenging these roles was an option, but right now blacks needed to suck it up and excel at what was offered them, trades. To DuBois, this was offensive, as it belittled blacks and gave them little if any hope for change, and any real fundamental application of the strides made from emancipation or the frustration of reconstruction. DuBois stresses that there are many who criticize Washingtons capitulation, but that he chooses not to, because there is danger in silence; But the hushing of the criticism of honest opponents is a dangerous thing. It leads some of the best of the critics to unfortunate silence and paralysis of effort, and others to burst into speech so passionately and intemperately as to lose listeners. (DuBois 124) DuBois, stres ses that he and other opponents of Washingtons policies and ideologies would like to see the silence end and the cry for and allowance of three essential things, for Blacks, in America 1. The right to vote. 2. Civic equality. And 3. The education of youth according to ability. (DuBois 128) Conclusion DuBois work The Souls of Black Folk is a fundamental document that should be read and understood by all who have any interest in black history and the way in which this history is portrayed. DuBois, unlike many mainline thinkers is demonstrative of a strong, educated black man worthy of praise and capable of intellectual musings regarding a whole group of people who were fundamentally silenced for most of their history in this nation. The use of the spiritual aspect as the thematic source of the work is also an essential strength, as even though many of DuBois words are wholly secular in nature the ideologies that he attests to should have a firm place in the spiritual character of hope, hope for change and hope for voice.

The Holocaust :: essays research papers

Hitler had a plan to ?purify? Germany in order to fulfill his vision of a perfect nation.In Mein Kampf, a book written by Adolf Hitler which explains his ambitions and explains how he wants to cleanse Germany of all Jews, communists, gypsies, homosexuals, and disabled people. Hitler had targeted specifically the Jewish population because of his hatred towards them. In World War Two, around 6 million Jews were persecuted by the Nazis. Firstly, in 1935, the Nazi Party passed the Nuremberg Laws, which were designed to stop Jews and Germans from marrying, to make sure that German blood was not tainted by mixing with other races, and produced pictures warning people about what could happen. People were ?warned? about which shop belonged to the Jews and were discouraged to buy any goods from Jewish stores. It was conspicuous that this racist law passed by Hitler was very degradingly towards the Jews. Despite that most people were not ignorant and knew this was wrong, no one dared to oppose the Nazis due to fear. Anyone that opposed the Nazis was to be shot. Hitler realized that this was not effective enough in order to achieve his goal. The Nazis had a meeting to discuss more efficient ways to eradicate the Jews. In 1938, the situation took a more serious turn for the worst. Called the night of Broken Glass, the Nazis started to use violence against the Jews. Jewish shops, churches, and other buildings were openly attacked. People became subjected to violence. It would lead to the start of more systematic violence. The violence escalated to the pinicle of the tragedy that the Jews experienced, the Holocaust. From 1939 onwards, Jews were rounded up. They were forced to move out of their homes. Jews started getting sent t o areas in cities designed only for them.

Small-Scale I.T. Infrastracture

This paper entitled I.T. Infrastracture for Andrea Stevens Cosmetics is a pre-formal draft for the proposed network design for the Stevens Cosmetics Information Technology system.This paper discusses the fundamental technical specifications needed to develop and implement the procedures needed to upgrade the hardware, software and procedures currently used by the company in the manufacturing and sales of the company's merchandise.This paper is limited as a draft and not intended as a complete project specification and technical reference for the project. Further verification and research is advised.In order to guarantee continuous usability of computer terminals and adaptability to emerging technologies for at least five (5) years in the future, it is advised that all terminals be upgraded to the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors with at least 1 Gigabyte of memory. Video, sound and network cards are not mandatory. A wireless network adapter or two (2) USB 2 ports, however, are requi red in order to accommodate the network requirements to be discussed on the next points.Instead of individually shared printers, multi-functional network printers with the feature to set its own IP address is recommended. This will eliminate the dependency of the printers in having a host computer to necessitate its operation.

Ap Biology Photosynthetic Organism Free Response Essays

Ap Biology Photosynthetic Organism Free Response Essays Ap Biology Photosynthetic Organism Free Response Essay Ap Biology Photosynthetic Organism Free Response Essay The rate of photosynthesis may vary with changes that occur in environmental temperature, wavelength of light, and light intensity. Using a photosynthetic organism of your choice, choose only ONE of the three variables (temperature, wavelength of light, or light intensity) and for this variable. Design a scientific experiment to determine the effect of the variable on the rate of photosynthesis for the organism Explain how you would measure the rate of photosynthesis in your experiment Describe the results you would expect. Explain why you would expect these results. The rate of photosynthesis is affected by environmental factors like light intensity, light wavelength, and temperature. This experiment will test the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis in a plant called Elodea. Elodea is an easy plant to use for this experiment because it is cheap, abundant, and easy to take care of. This photosynthetic organism needs to be kept in an aerated freshwater tank. To do this experiment, put the Elodea in a beaker of freshwater. Anchor the Elodea using a small weight like a paperclip so that the plant remains in the same position and up right through the entire experiment. Place the beaker of water containing the Elodea in front of a light bulb. In between the beaker and the light bulb, there should be a separate beaker of water that is used to absorb any heat produced by the light. This way the experiment will not be affected by another environmental factor, temperature. Every thirty seconds for five minutes, count the number of bubbles given off by the Elodea. After the first five minutes, move the beaker containing the Elodea about ten centimeters back and let it stand for two minutes so that it can adjust to the new intensity of the light. Count the bubbles released every thirty seconds for five minutes. Move the Elodea back ten more centimeters, let it adjust for two more minutes, then count the number of bubbles released again every thirty seconds for five more minutes. The same piece of Elodea must be used throughout the experiment in order to eliminate any natural reasons why one piece might photosynthesize faster than another (for example, one piece might have more leaves to enhance the amount of light absorbed at a time). The rate of photosynthesis can be determined different ways. Because oxygen is a product of photosynthesis and the Elodea plant is submerged in water, the oxygen is released in bubbles that rise to the surface of the water in the beaker. In this experiment, the rate of photosynthesis for each degree of light intensity can be measured by counting the number of bubbles released every 30 seconds for five minutes at each distance. The rate is the number of bubbles released per minute. Organisms that use the process of photosynthesis to create sugar to use for energy have a greater rate of photosynthesis when the intensity of the light source is the greatest. If light is far away from the leaves of a plant, for example, then it takes more time for the light to be absorbed and used in photosynthesis. When it takes more time for the light to reach the leaves, the rate of photosynthesis decreases. As the light intensity increases, I would expect the rate of photosynthesis to increase as well. Therefore, I would expect that when the Elodea is closest to the light bulb, the rate of photosynthesis would be the greatest. My hypothesis would be: If light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis, and the rate of photosynthesis is measured using the amount of oxygen given off by Elodea with a light bulbs placed at different distances, then the rate of photosynthesis in Elodea will be greatest when the intensity of the light bulb is greatest.

Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote Study Guide

Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote Study Guide Written by experimental author Jorge Luis Borges, Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote does not follow the format of a traditional short story. While a standard 20th-century short story describes a conflict that builds steadily towards a crisis, climax, and resolution, Borgess story imitates (and often parodies) an academic or scholarly essay. The title character of Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote is a poet and literary critic from France-and is also, unlike a more traditional title character, dead by the time the story begins. The narrator of Borgess text is one of Menards friends and admirers. In part, this narrator is moved to write his eulogy because misleading accounts of the newly-deceased Menard have begun to circulate: Already Error is attempting to tarnish his bright Memory†¦ Most decidedly, a brief rectification is imperative (88). Borgess narrator begins his rectification by listing all of the visible lifework of Pierre Menard, in proper chronological order (90). The twenty or so items on the narrators list include translations, collections of sonnets, essays on intricate literary topics, and finally a handwritten list of lines of poetry that owe their excellence to punctuation (89-90). This overview of Menards career is the preface to a discussion of Menards single most innovative piece of writing. Menard left behind an unfinished masterpiece which consists of the ninth and thirty-eighth chapters of Part I of Don Quixote and a fragment of Chapter XXII (90). With this project, Menard didnt aim to merely transcribe or copy Don Quixote, and he didnt attempt to produce a 20th-century updating of this 17th-century comic novel. Instead, Menards admirable ambition was to produce a number of pages which coincided-word for word and line for line with those of Miguel de Cervantes, the original author of the Quixote (91). Menard achieved this re-creation of the Cervantes text without really re-creating Cervantess life. Instead, he decided that the best route was continuing to be Pierre Menard and coming to the Quixote through the experiences of Pierre Menard (91). Although the two versions of the Quixote chapters are absolutely identical, the narrator prefers the Menard text. Menards version is less reliant on local color, more skeptical of historical truth, and on the whole more subtle than Cervantess (93-94). But on a more general level, Menards Don Quixote establishes and promotes revolutionary ideas about reading and writing. As the narrator notes in the final paragraph, Menard has (perhaps unwittingly) enriched the slow and rudimentary art of reading by means of a new technique the technique of deliberate anachronism and fallacious attribution (95). Following Menards example, readers can interpret canonical texts in fascinating new ways by attributing them to authors who didnt actually write them. Background and Contexts Don Quixote and World Literature: Published in two installments in the early 17th century, Don Quixote is regarded by many readers and scholars as the first modern novel. (For literary critic Harold Bloom, Cervantes’s importance to world literature is rivaled only by Shakespeare’s.) Naturally, Don Quixote would have intrigued an avant-garde Argentine author like Borges, partially because of its impact on Spanish and Latin American literature, and partially because of its playful approach to reading and writing. But there is another reason why Don Quixote is especially appropriate to â€Å"Pierre Menard†- because Don Quixote spawned unofficial imitations in its own time. The unauthorized sequel by Avellaneda is the most famous of these, and Pierre Menard himself can be understood as the latest in a line of Cervantes imitators. Experimental Writing in the 20th Century: Many of the world-famous authors who came before Borges crafted poems and novels that are built largely of quotations, imitations, and allusions to earlier writings. T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land- a long poem that uses a disorienting, fragmentary style and draws constantly on myths and legends- is one example of such reference-heavy writing. Another example is James Joyce’s Ulysses, which mixes bits of everyday speech with imitations of ancient epics, medieval poetry, and Gothic novels. This idea of an â€Å"art of appropriation† also influenced painting, sculpture, and installation art. Experimental visual artists such as Marcel Duchamp created â€Å"ready-made† artworks by taking objects from everyday life- chairs, postcards, snow shovels, bicycle wheels- and putting them together in strange new combinations. Borges situates â€Å"Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote† in this growing tradition of quotation and appropriation. (In fact, the final sentence of the story refers to James Joyce by name.) But â€Å"Pierre Menard† also shows how the art of appropriation can be taken to a comical extreme and does so without exactly lighting earlier artists; after all, Eliot, Joyce, and Duchamp all created works that are meant to be humorous or absurd. Key Topics Menard’s Cultural Background: Despite his choice of Don Quixote, Menard is mainly a product of French literature and French culture- and makes no secret of his cultural sympathies. He is identified in Borges’s story as a â€Å"Symbolist from Nà ®mes, a devotee essentially of Poe- who begat Baudelaire, who begat Mallarmà ©, who begat Valà ©ry† (92). (Though born in America, Edgar Allan Poe had an enormous French following after his death.) In addition, the bibliography that starts off â€Å"Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote† includes â€Å"a study of the essential metrical rules of French prose, illustrated with examples taken from Saint-Simon† (89). Oddly enough, this ingrained French background helps Menard to understand and re-create a work of Spanish literature. As Menard explains, he can easily imagine the universe â€Å"without the Quixote.† For him, â€Å"the Quixote is a contingent work; the Quixote is not necessary. I can premeditate committing it to writing, as it were- I can write it- without falling into a tautology† (92). Borges’s Descriptions: There are many aspects of Pierre Menard’s life- his physical appearance, his mannerisms, and most of the details of his childhood and domestic life- that are omitted from â€Å"Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote†. This is not an artistic flaw; in fact, Borges’s narrator is fully conscious of these omissions. Given the opportunity, the narrator consciously backs away from the task of describing Menard, and explains his reasons in the following footnote: â€Å"I did, I might say, have the secondary purpose of drawing a small sketch of the figure of Pierre Menard- but how dare I compete with the gilded pages I am told the Baroness de Bacourt is even now preparing, or with the delicate sharp crayon of Carolus Hourcade?† (90). Borges’s Humor: â€Å"Pierre Menard† can be read as a send-up of literary pretensions- and as a piece of gentle self-satire on Borges’s part. As Renà © de Costa writes in Humor in Borges, â€Å"Borges creates two outlandish types: the adulating critic who worships a single author, and the worshiped author as a plagiarist, before ultimately inserting himself into the story and rounding things out with a typical self-parody.† In addition to praising Pierre Menard for questionable accomplishments, Borges’s narrator spends much of the story criticizing â€Å"Mme. Henri Bachelier,† another literary type who admires Menard. The narrator’s willingness to go after someone who is, technically, on his side- and to go after her for rather obscure reasons- is another stroke of ironic humor. As for Borges’s humorous self-criticism, de Costa notes that Borges and Menard have strangely similar writing habits. Borges himself was known among his friends for â€Å"his square-ruled notebooks, his black crossings-out, his peculiar typographical symbols, and his insect-like handwriting† (95, footnote). In the story, all of these things are attributed to the eccentric Pierre Menard. The list of Borges stories that poke gentle fun at aspects of Borges’s identity- â€Å"Tlà ¶n, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius†, â€Å"Funes the Memorious†, â€Å"The Aleph†, â€Å"The Zahir†- is considerable, though Borges’s most extensive discussion of his own identity occurs in â€Å"The Other†. A Few Discussion Questions How would â€Å"Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote† be different if it centered on a text other than Don Quixote? Does Don Quixote seem like the most appropriate choice for Menard’s strange project, and for Borges’s story? Should Borges have focused his satire on a totally different selection from world literature?Why did Borges use so many literary allusions in â€Å"Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote†? How do you think Borges wants his readers to react to these allusions? With respect? Annoyance? Confusion?How would you characterize the narrator of Borges’s story? Do you feel that this narrator is simply a stand-in for Borges, or are Borges and the narrator very different in major ways?Are the ideas about writing and reading that appear in this story totally absurd? Or can you think of real-life reading and writing methods that recall Menard’s ideas? Note on Citations All in-text citations refer to Jorge Luis Borges, Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote, pages 88-95 in Jorge Luis Borges: Collected Fictions (Translated by Andrew Hurley. Penguin Books: 1998).

Political Talk Outside the Workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Political Talk Outside the Workplace - Essay Example Inventory: While pursuing this course I realized that I do want to create effective and interesting compositions so that the people who read them may really enjoy them. Hence, it would not be wrong to say that I consider the writing to be an extension of my social self. Besides, while pursuing this course I realized that getting feedback and criticism from others much improves my writing skills. I really love it when people praise the originality and ingenuity of my ideas. This further motivates me to work on my writing skills so that in the long run I may turn out to be an interesting and appreciated writer. Thesis: The one great thing about computers is that they totally do away with the hassles caused by distance and time and allow me to communicate with people, friends and family members located anywhere in the world at any time of the day. Evidence: The very fact that when computers were not there, the maximum one could do to access one’s loved ones and friends was to give them a call. Social media like Facebook and Twitter rely on computers to be able to allow people to locate and communicate with their friends around the world. Computers also allow for communicating with people in a variety of formats like audio, visual and text. Purpose and Audience: This essay intends to communicate with the people interested in knowing my ideas about computers. I feel that I need to make the essay more personal. Too much of technical information has made the essay boring. Besides, many people already know these technical facts. I need to relate this information to my personal experience. Thesis Statement, Topic Sentences and Paragraphs: The thesis statement could be written in a more simple and compact manner. The thesis statement needs to be a summation of the important ideas I presented in the essay.

Design Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Design - Assignment Example It will be a two-day program whereby the lessons will run from 8:00am to 3:00pm daily. It will be a two-day program whereby the lessons will run from 8:00am to 3:00pm daily. For these two days, the above stated units will be taught. On day one, 8:00 to 8:30am will be for exchanging introductions. Course documents will run from 8:30 to 9:00am. Choices for creating a questionnaire or survey form and creating a document will run from 9:00 to 10:00am. Review of Adobe Acrobat and creating a sample form, on the other hand, will run from 10:10 to 12:00 after the 10 minutes break. The first day will end at 3:00pm after examining the achievements and failures of the day. The parties involved will also review and repeat crucial steps in order to remember the process. This will take place from 1:00 to 3:00pm. My goal is to assist student create an Interactive PDF. They should be able to review different software programs, use adobe acrobat professional software and review minor technical errors when utilizing adobe acrobat (Sypowicz, 2010). My testing strategies will be how students determine adequate software, how efficient they are when using Adobe Acrobat and noting errors to the system among others. The whole process will cost the institution roughly $1500. This is taking into consideration the salaries, supplies, equipment, food, printing and travelling fee. Salaries might amount up to $625. Supplies and equipment, on the other hand, would amount to $250. The rest would be used in food supplies, printing of material, as well as travelling. However, the benefits of this course surpass the high cost of the course. After training is complete, participants will be happy about their fresh skill and knowledge concerning Adobe Acrobat Software. Knowing participants are no longer reliant on other members of an organization, or colleagues to make