Phonograph Invention and Evolution

Introduction Phonograph is not a new concept or tool. Different names have been used to refer to it in different places for instance record player, turntable or gramophone. The device was introduced towards the end of the 19th century, in 1877 by Edison Alva Thomas while he was carrying out his normal duties at his laboratory in New Jersey. The purpose of the phonograph was to record and reproduce sound recordings.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Phonograph Invention and Evolution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The phonograph has undergone a lot of notable evolutions, the first invention being marked by some wavy lines that were either etched or grooved on a cylinder that rotated in order to produce the desired results (Pingree, 2004). This paper gives a general overview of the phonograph with much emphasis being given to its invention and evolution as well as how it has affected arts and its connection to huma nities. The time period the phonograph was invented and the circumstances that led to the invention. The Edison’s phonograph was invented in 1877. The device comprised of a drum in a cylindrical shape which was wrapped in a tinfoil and mounted on an axle threaded in an organized manner. It also had a mouthpiece through which sound would be recorded. The invention was a product of Edison’s other inventions, the telephone and telegraph. Although the phonograph is greatly attributed to Edison’s efforts, various people had come up with the idea earlier, for example Kruesi and Charles Cros. The circumstances that surrounded the invention of the phonograph include the desire of man to have documentation whereby they would have a reference of what happens for instance expression of the human voice/ speech and various artistic performances such as music that proved a bit hard to preserve in the human memory. The need for entertainment also contributed to its invention s ince things like radios and TV were not present at the time (Moore, 1908). How the phonograph has evolved over time and the effects of the evolution on later time periods Just like any other development, the phonograph was not invented in one day. It took some time, considerations and combination of different ideas. Its evolution has been deemed to have a lot of impact on various life aspects especially in art and humanities. The early invention involved use of tin foil cylinders. Wax cylinders were later developed to deal with problems associated with tin foils like wearing out quickly. Hard plastic cylinders were then developed in the early 20th century.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The invention and advancement of the phonograph and its operations has had a part to play on other inventions. This is because the later inventions like radio and TV have drawn ideas on the earli er phonograph and made some improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness (Millard, 2005). How phonograph affected the arts within the time period it was invented Phonograph has had a part to play in the different forms of art including music, theatre and drama among other arts. Phonograph has been deemed to have contributed positively to the field of art and humanities through bringing about diversity which in turn makes these fields interesting. The phonograph added importance to the art arena by providing a way through which the different works would be recorded and archived for use at a convenient time by any individual that could own the instrument. Music and drama would for example be recorded and reproduced later and this aspect contributed to the growth of the art industry where artists enhanced their talents and were able to create their presence among the public as opposed to earlier times where they would only be known at the time of performance since there was no form of retrievable storage (Du Moncel, 1974). How the advancement of phonograph is connected to the humanities According to Ramadhan (2011), the invention and advancement of the phonograph has not existed in isolation but rather amongst many other concepts where some form of dependence has been witnessed. It has, for example, played a great part when it comes to the field of humanities. The phonograph has made human life easier because they don’t have to rely solely on their memory for their works. People were also in a position to bring different aspects of the world into their homes, an aspect which led to the emergence of a global culture as a result of integration of different elements from different cultures provided by the recordings. Entertainment was also enhanced by the phonograph in a great manner. Conclusion Technology advancement is inevitable. It is a concept that has been there all along with the speed and sophistication increasing day by day. The phonograph is an instrument that is deemed to be a reference point when it comes to the field of art and humanities especially Music.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Phonograph Invention and Evolution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Later developments have drawn ideas from it and made some improvements. There are various circumstances that surrounded the invention of phonograph as mentioned earlier and with the changes of times, there have been implementation of modifications in making of instruments to incorporate the changes. Reference List Du Moncel, T.A.L. (1974). The Telephone, the Microphone and the Phonograph. New York: Arno Press. Millard, A.J. (2005). America on Record: A History of Recorded Sound. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Moore, C.C. (1908). A Treatise on Facts: Or, the Weight and Value Of Evidence, Volume 1. New York: Thompson Company. Pingree, B.G. (2004). New Media, 1740-1915. New Jersey: MIT Press , 2004. Ramadhan, A. (2011). Facts about the Phonograph. Retrieved from https://ourpastimes.com/history-vinyl-records-5373550.html This essay on Phonograph Invention and Evolution was written and submitted by user Marcus Valentine 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.

Guide to E-Commerce

Guide to E-Commerce The business world has become increasingly difficult to become successful in. In order for organizations to overcome this difficulty, they must be able to explore other business-related options. It is essential that their operations are fast and efficient, while simultaneously maintaining strong customer relations. One option that has recently proven to be an effective aid for businesses to progress is Electronic Commerce. It allows unlimited business hours due to its around the clock operations, lower labour costs than a traditional business, and exposes the business through a larger market by means of the World Wide Web. With our ever-changing society undeniably striving for technological advancement, E-commerce has become an effective method of conducting business.Electronic Commerce is defined as "The conducting of business communication and transactions over networks and through computers. As most restrictively defined, electronic commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services, and the transfer of funds, through digital communications."moo business cards"However E-commerce also includes all inter-company and intra-company functions (such as marketing, finance, manufacturing, selling, and negotiation) that enable commerce and use electronic mail, EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), file transfer, fax, video conferencing, workflow, or interaction with a remote computer" (Dictionary.com). Similar to a traditional business, E-commerce involves the buying and selling of goods and services; they differ only through their means of these transactions. A traditional business is restricted to face-to-face dealings, whereas the transactions of E-commerce are done solely through digital communications. A typical E-commerce transaction is as follows. First the customer must have interest in a product and find it online. Once he/she is satisfied with the located product, a credit information form is filled out complete with credit name, mailing address, phone n umber, email address, and credit card number with expiry date. This information is then sent in and checked by...

11 Memorial

Arads Vision for the National 9/11 Memorial Rebuilding anything is hard work. Nearly two years after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, New York developers announced a challenge - design a memorial for a shocked and grieving nation. Anyone could enter the competition. Entries poured in from architects, artists, students, and other creative people around the world. A panel of 13 judges reviewed 5,201 proposals. It took six months to select the designs of eight finalists. Behind closed doors, one of the judges, Maya Lin, praised a simple memorial originally titled Reflecting Absence. The 34-year-old  architect, Michael Arad, had never built anything larger than a police station. Yet submission 790532, Arads model for the memorial, stayed in the hearts and minds of the judges. Michael Arads Vision Michael Arad had served in the Israeli Army, studied at Dartmouth College and Georgia Tech, and eventually settled in New York. On September 11, 2001, he stood on the roof of his Manhattan apartment building and watched the second plane strike the World Trade Center. Haunted, Arad began sketching plans for a memorial long before the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) launched their competition. Arads concept for Reflecting Absence featured two 30-foot deep voids, symbolizing the absence of the fallen Twin Towers. Ramps would lead down to underground galleries where visitors could stroll past cascading waterfalls and pause at the plaques engraved with the names of those who died. Arads design was truly three-dimensional, with subterranean features as pronounced as those at street level. The design, Arad later told Places magazine, drew inspiration from the simple, sculptural work of architects Louis Kahn, Tadao Ando, and Peter Zumthor. Although the judges admired Michael Arads entry, they felt that it needed more work. They encouraged Arad to join forces with California landscape architect Peter Walker. By all reports, the partnership was rocky. However, in the spring of 2004 the team unveiled an expanded plan that incorporated a scenic plaza with trees and walkways. Trouble Looms for the 9/11 Memorial Critics responded to the 9/11 Memorial plans with mixed reviews. Some called Reflecting Absence moving and healing. Others said that the waterfalls were impractical and the deep pits hazardous. Still others protested the idea of memorializing the dead in a space located underground. To make matters worse, Michael Arad butted heads with architects in charge of the New York reconstruction projects. Daniel Libeskind, master planner for the World Trade Center site, said that Reflecting Absence did not harmonize with his own Memory Foundations design vision. The architects chosen for the underground National 9/11 Museum, J. Max Bond, Jr. and others from the Davis Brody Bond architecture firm, came on board and tweaked Arads subsurface memorial design - apparently against Arads wishes. After stormy meetings and construction delays, cost estimates for the memorial and the museum soared to nearly $1 billion. In May 2006, New York Magazine reported that Arads memorial teeters on the brink of collapse. Michael Arads Dream Triumphs The World Trade Center towers (the  skyscrapers) and the Transportation Hub are the business end of what is built at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Early on, however, politicians, historians, and community leaders knew that a good part of the real estate had to be dedicated to the people affected by the terrorist tragedy. This meant a memorial and museum within one of the largest spaces set aside for redevelopment. Who was involved? Architects of the underground museum (Davis Brody Bond); architects of the aboveground pavilion entrance to the museum (Snà ¸hetta); architect of the memorial (Arad); landscape architect for the memorial / museum plaza area (Walker); and the architect of the Master Plan (Libeskind). Compromise is the cornerstone of every great project. Like Libeskinds dramatically altered Vertical World Garden, Reflecting Absence saw many transformations. Its now known as the National September 11 Memorial. The names of those who died areinscribed on the bronze parapet on the plaza level, instead of in underground galleries. Many other features that Arad wanted have been modified or eliminated. Still, his core vision - deep voids and rushing water - remains intact. Architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker worked with a water architect and many engineers to construct the enormous waterfalls. Family members or victims remained actively involved as they deliberated over the arrangement of the engraved names. On September 11, 2011, ten years after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, a formal dedication ceremony marked the completion of the National 9/11 Memorial. The underground museum by Davis Brody Bond and the aboveground atrium pavilion by Snà ¸hetta opened in May 2014. Together, all of the architectural elements are known as the National September 11 Memorial Museum. The Memorial by Arad and Walker is an open park space, free to the public. The underground museum, includingthe infamous slurry wall that holds back the Hudson River, is open for a fee. The September 11 memorial site is designed to honor the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in New York, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, and also the six people who died when terrorists bombed the New York World Trade Center on February 26, 1993. More generally, the National 9/11 Memorial speaks out against terrorism everywhere and offers a promise of renewal. Who Is Michael Arad? Michael Sahar Arad was one of six recipients of the Young Architects Award given by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2006. By 2012 Arad was one of fifteen Architects of Healing receiving a special AIA medal for his Reflecting Absence design of the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Arad was born in Israel, 1969, and served in the Israeli Military from 1989 to 1991. He arrived in the US in 1991 to go to school, earning a BA in Government from Dartmouth College (1994) and a Masters in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology (1999). He signed on with Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) from 1999 to 2002, and after 9-11 worked for the New York City Housing Authority from 2002 to 2004. Since 2004 Arads been a partner at Handel Architects LLP. In the Words of Michael Arad Im proud to be an American. I was not born in this country, nor was I born to American parents. Becoming an American was something I chose to do, and Im so grateful for that privilege because I love the values of this country and Im grateful for the opportunities this country has given me first as a student and then as an architect. America epitomizes for me liberty and equality, tolerance and a belief in shared sacrifices. It is a noble social experiment that depends on every generations engagement and belief in it. The design of the Memorial of the World Trade Center is a physical manifestation of these values and beliefs. It is a design formed by my experiences in New York in the aftermath of the attacks, where I witnessed the remarkable response of the City as a community, united in its most trying hour; united in compassion and courage, determined and stoic. The public spaces of the City - places like Union Square and Washington Square - were the sites where this incredible civic response took shape, and, in fact, it could not have taken shape without them. These public spaces informed and gave shape to the response of its citizens and their design is open democratic forms reflect our shared values and beliefs in a civic and democratic society based on freedom, liberty, and yet even the individual pursuit of happiness what else is a pursuit of solace in the face of grief. Public spaces form our shared responses and our understanding of ourselves and our place within society, not as spectators, but as participants, as engaged citizens, as a community of people united by a shared destiny. What better way to respond to that attack and to honor the memory of those who perished than to construct another vessel for that community, another public space, a new forum, a place that affirms our values and imparts them to us and to future generations. It has been a remarkable privilege and responsibility to be part of this effort. I am humbled and honored to be part of it, and I am grateful for the recognition this award bestows on the efforts of my colleagues and myself. Thank you very much. - Architects of Healing Ceremony, American Institute of Architects, May 19, 2012, Washington, D.C. Sources for This Article: Reflecting Absence, commentary by Michael Arad from Places magazine, May 2009 (at http://places.designobserver.com/media/pdf/Reflecting_Abs_1162.pdf)The Breaking of Michael Arad, New York magazineCost and Safety Put Memorials Striking Vision at Risk, New York TimesReflecting Absence: Exploring The 9/11 Memorial, Huffington Post9/11 Memorial Nears Completion, Ending Complicated, Contentious Process at old.gothamgazette.com/article/arts/20110714/1/3565, Gotham GazetteIroning Out Where to Purpose 9/11†²s Iconic Steel Cross, New York Observer9/11 Memorial Official SiteLower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC) at www.lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/world_trade_center_memorial_93699.aspxThe Port Authority website at www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/memorial-museum.htmlLower Manhattan Construction Command Center Project Update at lowermanhattan.info/construction/project_updates/world_trade_center_memorial_93699.aspx

Discuss the effects that the institution of slavery had on Atlantic Essay

Discuss the effects that the institution of slavery had on Atlantic Civilization - Essay Example The Europeans and American colonies were interested in Atlantic slavery because the location was easily accessible and secondly it was cheaper to get slaves. In order to prove the thesis of this paper that slave trade had great impacts on Atlantic, let’s zoom into what happened. The ancient Egyptian society is well much known for its unique pyramids. The construction of pyramids was done by slaves who worked for long hours under inhumane conditions. Young people especially from the Hebrew community were the ones who were building the pyramids. With the capital punishment of death, they would opt to endure the hardship as the best options. This can be attributed to the reign and era of Pharaoh. These slaves had no right to anything as they were constantly subjected to servitude. Therefore, the results of slavery led to construction of pyramids (Carney, Judith, and Richard, 21). There was also acquisitions, by African, of European good and commodities, in exchange of human cargo. This is to say that European slave trade terms and conditions demanded that, in exchange for their goods, like guns, cooking utensils, attire and alcoholic drinks, they required slaves rather that gold. As a result of this, merchants, who traded for Europeans, were encouraged to get slaves so that they can exchange with European commodities. Consequently, this desire to acquire European commodities led to slow economic growth in internal trade. This is because, demand for internal commodities went down. On the other hand, the acquisition of guns in both the Central and West Africa enabled establishment of military and political tribes in Africa (Green, 3). Besides trading human for European commodities, some European slave traders exchanged slaves for gold. As a result, there was accumulation of wealth within the European slave trade chatter. With availability of wealth, slave merc hants were not only able to facilitate industrial revolutions and capitalist production, but they

Construction Technology 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Construction Technology 2 - Essay Example Because the fire curves are modelled on the basis of design fires, the analysis becomes vulnerable to the difference between design fire parameters and the real fire situations that may occur. Furthermore, varying conditions and the global proliferation of standards for fire tests make it imperative that an approximate approach to different situations/standards, for structures (at sea and on land) be adopted. This work aims to analyse fire curves in terms of their vital components/features, simultaneously considering the critical levels at which these vital variables of the standard curves experience a change, with the associated consequences of such, regarding the effectiveness of fire curves at carrying out their function of fire resistance determination. A further look will be taken at the applicability of these curves at sea, with analysis involving a look at the means and extent to which these applications vary, in the approach associated with them. The level of fire resistance in structures (onshore) is generally assessed or analysed by the use of engineering fire design curves. Different types of fire curves and standards are adopted in various parts of the world. Different assumptions are also associated with these different curves. Technically speaking, fire curves are applied to determine the fire resistance rating of passive fire protection systems. This rating is a measure of the time over which a passive fire protection system can resist or withstand a standard fire protection test. Some of the most commonly used standard fire curves include the ISO-834 (BS 476 or DIN 4102), which are relevant to cellulosic structures. There are also the ASTM E119 and UL 1709(or Eurocode 1), applicable to hydrocarbon situations. Engineering design practice generally uses these curves in the context of design fire temperatures, which attempt to

The Main Characters of Pride and Prejudice Essay Example for Free

The Main Characters of Pride and Prejudice Essay Most people have seen the movie played by Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen or read the book, pride and prejudice, wrote by Jane Austen. We may be moved by Darcy and Elizabeth’s love. Though there are full of hardships, they have a happy ending. Then I will introduce the difficult but beautiful love between them and give a analysis to this couple one aspect by one aspect. Firstly, the family backgrounds of Darcy and Elizabeth is the basic things that we should know. Darcy is a noble descent and he inherits an enormous amount o f property. It is said that â€Å"his annual income is assessed at ten thousand pounds. †? So he never worries about his own food, clothing, shelter and transportation. He dislikes making friends with common people; he is a self-willed man and he likes to dominate his close friends. But he is a fine, tall person with handsome features. However, compared with Darcy, Elizabeth’s family is really poor, though they live a better life than the ordinary people. There are five daughters in this family. Unlike other sisters, Elizabeth likes reading, and she is â€Å"the apple of her father’s eye†.? And it is the same reason that she looks things in a different way and makes her so unique. Secondly, it is the turn for me to introduce the characteristics of Darcy and Elizabeth. Different from Bingley, Darcy is not talkative in front of the strangers. He only asks the familiar women to have a dance, because he can not speak sugared words to the strange women. People who do not know about him will consider him as a pride man. Actually, pride is not his characteristic. It is the education he has received that he is superior to the people. That is the reason why he has a proud and hypercritical character. There is no doubt that the proud and hypercritical character depends on a lot of property, noble social status and strong power. Events force Darcy to modify identification of social desirability and social status.? For the reason that he is fastidious,he has only a good friend, Bingley. It is not difficult to understand he must be particular about his wife. The woman who can make him fall in love must be not only beautiful, but also special, well-educated and knowledgeable. †? Elizabeth lives in a society of stationary characters in its conditions and outlook. Generations are born, and die and are succeeded by their descents, living in the same places and doing the same things. There is so little change of ideas: democracy has not yet raised her horrid head money is a potential problem; courtship has its own drama. People around her are almost all foolish, passive and reposeful, though there are a few exceptions. Her father, Mr. Bennet is a country gentleman in whom irony is the most salient quality and who by wit, quick common sense and appreciation of character makes some amends for the selfish indifference, which is the ground of his character. † With no doubt, Elizabeth is her father’s daughter in taste and intellect, As well as in possessing a strong critical judgment, though there is indeed some likeness in her character with her mother’s warm feeling, hasty judgments are common to both; Mrs. Bennet’s feelings, impulsiveness, judgments and speeches are generally wrong, and Elizabeth’s are generally right; but there is as much likeness between mother and daughter as may exist between a lively and sensible woman and a lively fool. In a word, in her character, to a large extent, there is a mixture of her father and mother. â€Å"Capability for judgment is one of the charming, strong points of Elizabeth. †? She has more quickness of observation and is capable of both complex impressions and complex ideas. Her sensibility and intelligence rarely fail her in her reading of human minds, observing life and drawing out her correct first impression. Her first impression about Darcy’s house is accurate and authenticated and of figures like Mrs. Collins, Lady Catherine is right. However, her first impression is wrong. It is partly owing to Darcy’s own deportment, his proud manner and insulting proposals, partly to her too quick response and partly to her guilt of credulity—she puts too much confidence in Wickham’s entirely false, slanderous remarks. Human life is a complicated thing, this is one of the reasons we can find. Thirdly, I will show Darcy’s pride and Elizabeth’s prejudice clearly. Let Darcy be the first one to be introduced. One reflection of Darcys proud behavior is at the very beginning at the ball in Merton. In just a couple of hours people begin to dislike him. Mr. Darcy soon draws the attention of the room by his fine, tall person with handsome features. The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man till his manners gives disgust for he was discovered to be proud. The other reflection of Darcys pride is his first proposal scene. After months of struggle and consideration, Darcy chooses to open his heart to Elizabeth and tells her all his love. However, â€Å"Darcy neglects the proper words on a proposal occasion though his feeling is more of tenderness rather than pride. †? His honest confession of all his thoughts doesnt win him the pleasure of marriage; instead, it arouses the argument involving Janes happiness and Darcys responsibility in Wickhams case. When he treats his door keeper’s son, Wickham, he is also so arrogant. He says nothing or says â€Å"hello† in front of the girls at the sight of Wickham who has not seen for a long time. It is the result that he is above meeting Wickham. However, the girls may regard him insolent and rude. At the same time, when Elizabeth refers to Wickham at party, Darcy does not make any explanation. He does not speak it out the facts that Wickham is not kind because he believes that people will find it out on themselves. Of course,he will not communicate with Kerens who like to flatter. â€Å"He goes away with no word when he meets Kerens. ? Now it is the time for Elizabeth. The first time that they meet is at the party. When Bingley introduces him to Elizabeth, he only says that she is not so beautiful to attract my attention and he will not dance with other women.. he must know that Elizabeth can hear it when he is saying that. Darcy is proud enough to speak it out without care and it is easy to find out he is quite a pride man. In fact, Darcy is attracted by Elizabeth’s beautiful eyes at the first sight of her. When he answers Bingley, he has fallen in love with Elizabeth. However, he can reject Bingley’s advice in an impolite way, which is talked to her friends as a joke by Elizabeth. Then Mrs. Bennett lets her oldest daughter riding a horse to Bingley’s home in order to attract Bingley’s attention. The oldest daughter gets a cold, so she must stay at Bingley’s house for a few days. When Elizabeth visits her sister on foot, she comes across with Darcy. During those days, Darcy has realized that he loves Elizabeth. But he does things still arrogantly instead of baring his heart to her. When he extremely wants to ask Elizabeth to have a dance, he says thatâ€Å" he will give her an opportunity to have a dance with him. †? It is too rude for a woman to accept it. It is just like charity and no woman wants to dance with him after hearing that. Finally, the development of relationships between Darcy and Elizabeth will be told in details. At first, there are something unhappy between Darcy and Elizabeth. When Elizabeth visits the Kerens, Elizabeth meets Darcy’s cousin ,Colonel Fitzwilliam,she knows hat from him it is Darcy who has prevented Bingley from marrying Jane and privately hinks Jane does not lose heart to Bingley who, he thinks, could get little benefit and happiness from the bonnet. So Darcy covers up that Jane has gone to London to have a visit to Miss Bingley. But Darcy does not know that Jane is a girl who is not good at expressing her feelings. He could not imagine that his self-opinionated action has made great hurt to Bingley and Jane. It h as a vivid and incisive description of his pride in this novel when Darcy decides to propose marriage to Elizabeth; it is also the climax of the novel to describe Darcy’s character. After thinking clearly, Darcy makes an offer of marriage to Elizabeth in a special way. He says thatâ€Å" Elizabeth is born in a poor family and it is her honor to marry him. †? He thinks that Elizabeth should accept it and repay him for his precious love. He guesses that Elizabeth would love him and accept happily just as Bingley should not marry Jane. But they are all his private thoughts. She repulses his offer of marriage, which really gives a hit to Darcy’s pride. However, it is a good opportunity for Darcy to introspect what is wrong and also foreshadows their happy ending. Then Mr. Darcy helps Mr. Bingley and Jane eliminates their misunderstanding; He also solves Lydia’s scandal and rescues her and the entire Bennet family from disgrace. Finally, they have a happy ending. It is the turning point of their relationships. I have introduced Darcy and Elizabeth’s beautiful love story and also witness a couple from strangers to from a family. Their love tells us that marriage is not only based on the property and social status, but also built on the adoring each other and respecting each other.

Invisible Man :: essays papers

Invisible Man Invisible Man: Ralph Ellison Ralph Waldo Ellison was born in Oklahoma on March 1, 1914. From 1933 to 1936, Ellison attended Tuskegee Institute, intent upon pursuing a career in music. Like the protagonist in the novel, Ellison grew up in the south, then later moved to New York City. In New York he met the leading black figures of that day, such as Richard Wright and Langston Hughes, who he said encouraged his own writing ambitions. Ellison became associated with the Federal Writer's Project, where he published short stories and articles in such magazines as New Challenge and New Masses. Since 1970, Ralph Ellison has been professor of the humanities at New York University and has lectured extensively on black folk culture. The influences of his early interests in music helped to create a richly symbolic, metaphorical language of his novels, which he is most known for. In his works, Ellison well-spokenly describes the problems of American racism that continue to plaque the country in all areas today. In 1952, Ralph Ellison's novel The Invisible Man gave voice to the feelings of many black Americans who felt that they were not "seen" by American society. The novel won the National Book Award in 1953 and was also published two years before the Supreme Court ruled the Brown vs. Board of Education to outlaw separate but equal education in America. While the Civil War freed the slaves, it did not integrate blacks into the American mainstream. As did so many from this generation, the nameless protagonist of Invisible Man leaves the South for New York City. Here he becomes a pawn for a political group, and he discovers he is not seen as an individual human being. After becoming involved in a Harlem riot, he realizes that he must deal with people of both races. He also realizes that many people see him as a Black Man, and therefore his real nature is unseen by them-- this makes him "invisible". Many times, people, often introverted and alienated from the rest of society, have found themselves in situations in which they are on the outside looking in. These people often have a feeling of being "invisible" and unidentified to the rest of society and therefore undergo a need to search for their identity in order to be recognised and have a place at the "social table". In this particular novel, our character which calls himself the "invisible man", is faced with the challenges of being a young African American male from the south, living in the north, who encounters a number of baffling experiences while on the road to self-discovery.

In what way is cultural and national identity a major concern in this extract Essay

The extract makes constant references to cultural and national identity through the style of the text, the imagery of the clothing and appearances of people. There is also indication to context through the beliefs of people in the places that Jonathan visits and their rejection towards him. Bram Stoker uses this cultural and national identity to contrast the one of that Jonathan possesses. Throughout the text, there is extensive description on the appearances of the people and sometimes architecture of the differences places the protagonist visits, depicting the differences of culture and national identity. They wore high boots, with their trousers tucked into them, and had long black hair and heavy black moustaches†¦ very picturesque, but do not look prepossessing. † These descriptions give clues to their context and when the appearance shifts rapidly, there is a clear understanding that the protagonist is travelling to new places quickly. This travelling is another clue to his context, with the existence of travel writing and trains. The culture and national identity of the different places that Jonathan travels to is an indication that he is no longer in his modern society but travelling deeper and deeper into a culture that almost lives in the past. This is shown by the imagery of the people in the different towns, â€Å"†¦ with short jackets, and round hats, and home-made trousers. † These people are highly superstitious and this is conveyed by the landlady’s concern for Jonathan as he is leaving on the 4th of May. In her culture, there is superstition upon the next day as it believed to be the day where â€Å"all the evil things in the world will have full sway†. The crucifix and rosary are symbols of her culture and nationality and are used to wear away the abhuman. This â€Å"old† way of life seems almost primitive and uncivilised compared to the â€Å"new† modern context that Jonathan comes from. As he travels from the West to the East, there is contrast between the clothing that they wear and also the beliefs within the people. Jonathan clearly comes from a more technologically and academically advanced society and this is shown through the epistolary form of the text which can be identified from the dates and locations stated prior every entry and the recount-like narration style. The train in Jonathan’s world is contrasted with the horse and carriage in the less advanced world he has travelled to. â€Å"[He] cracked his big whip over his four small horses, which ran abreast, and we set off on our journey. The late-Victorian context, anti-modernism and anti-rationalism is reflected in the locations Jonathan travels to. It is especially obvious when he passes groups of people and they call him names such as â€Å"â€Å"Ordog† – Satan, â€Å"Pokol† – hell, â€Å"stegoica† – witch†Ã¢â‚¬ . The people of the town show a rejection towards Jonathan as his modernity clearly does not belong in their society. They criticise him as a notion to criticise his modern kind for the abnormal behaviours of their world and the beings that possess these characteristics, the abhuman. Although there are differences in the nationalities, the identification of the abhuman in this area is uniform – â€Å"â€Å"vrolok† and â€Å"vlkoslak† – both mean the same thing, one being Slovak and the other Servian for something that is either werewolf or vampire. † This again depicts the large amounts of superstition and rejection towards science which is then contrasted with the rationality of Jonathan. The Eastern towns that Jonathan travels to are seemingly ‘abhuman’ as they believe in strange superstitions and do not believe in modernity and change. They are relatively primitive and do not embrace modern technology such as trains. This behaviour gives the reader that sense of abnormality and the abhuman as they see things through first person narration trough Jonathan’s point of view. Summarily, Stoker has used an epistolary style and other features to convey Jonathan’s context which is then contrasted with the descriptions of the unfamiliar locations that he travels to. This strange superstitious behaviour is used to contrast between the civilised and uncivilised, progressive and regressive, human and abhuman.

Oedipus Rex Cosmic Trial

Caitlin Lacy AP English Literature 11/12/12 Persuasive Essay Everything happens for a reason. You were born for a reason, there’s a reason you got an F on your math quiz. Everything happens for a reason. Most of the time the reason for something bad happening might not be very clear to you, but it’s there. Everything that happens to you happens because it all leads up to your ultimate fate, you can’t change your fate because for one, you probably don’t know what it is, but if you happened to know, everything you do to prevent it will eventually lead up to it.Think back to why you got an F on your math quiz, you didn’t study at all. So, you get your quiz back and your teacher asks you to stay after class, after her lecture you walk out of class late and you bump into a guy, long story short, he’s your soul mate and fifteen years later you’re happily married. Imagine if you had studied. It was fate, you weren’t supposed to study. No one is to blame for Laius’s death, not even Oedipus, it was fate, and fate can’t be avoided.Before reading the play, we’re already aware of Oedipus’s story. We know what his ultimate fate is, so we know what that all of Oedipus’s actions led up to his ultimate fate. One of the first clues we are given is also one of the biggest clues proving that fate can’t be changed. King Laius didn’t kill Oedipus himself, he ordered the shepherd to do it for him. There was no way for Laius to know whether the shepherd would kill the infant or not because he wasn’t present.Naturally, the shepherd didn’t kill Oedipus because Oedipus was just an infant, and a person with a heart probably wouldn’t kill an infant just because, the shepherd then proceeded to give Oedipus to a messenger who then took the baby to Corinth where Oedipus was adopted by the king and queen. This leads to another clue, which is the fact that Oedipus was r aised to believe that the king and queen of Corinth were his biological parents. Had he known they were his adoptive parents he most likely wouldn’t have gone to the oracle to Apollo at Delphi.The very fact that he went to see the oracle is just another example of fate prevailing. Once Oedipus learned his fate he left Corinth because he obviously didn’t want the prophecy to come true. Fate is the strongest theme in the story, another reason why fate is to blame for King Laius’s death. He had to be killed by his son no matter what; every single action in the play shows that. From the very beginning there was a way around this terrible fate, but Laius lost the chance when he ordered someone else to do his dirty work for him.Also, Oedipus was a baby at the time so he had no control over what was happening to him, and it would also be ridiculous for Oedipus to be blamed for his father’s death, because he was destined to fulfill this prophecy from before he wa s even born. If there was no prophecy, and Oedipus had killed his father, then he could be blamed, but there is too much evidence suggesting otherwise. From the way everything plays out you can see that fate is the cause of the whole ordeal. The minute Oedipus found out what he was destined for, he fled Corinth, because, as mentioned before, he believed that his adoptive parents were his biological parents.If you found out that you were destined for something as terrible was what Oedipus was destined for, you’d probably leave home too. No one who is sane wants to marry their mother and kill their father, Oedipus found out and tried to prevent this from happening, one might argue that his efforts to prevent his fate led to his fate, which is true, but he had no way of knowing that among the men he killed in the road that one of them was his father, and that the woman he married was his mother. â€Å"Now my curse on the murderer.Whoever he is, a lone man unknown in his crime o r one among many, let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step-â€Å" Oedipus, 280-283. Although this quote is extremely ironic, it shows that Oedipus has no idea he killed his father, and also that he believes that the act was wrong, and that the murderer needs to be punished. We also know that Oedipus murdered his father and his father’s men at a triple crossroad, there were two other roads for Oedipus to follow after killing the men, but for some reason, fate, it happened to be the road that led to Thebes.Fate, once again. Oedipus, once again, had no way of knowing that he had chosen the path to Thebes, it was just supposed to be that way. At the time of Oedipus’s arrival in Thebes, there was a sphinx keeping people out of the city, anyone who guessed the sphinx’s riddle incorrectly was devoured. Also, Oedipus had already fulfilled half of the prophecy, which meant that he was going to answer the riddle correctly because he had to get to The bes to be able to wed Jocasta.Because Oedipus saved Thebes, and because the king was mysteriously murdered, it was custom for Oedipus to marry the widowed queen, it had always been that way and there was no reason for Oedipus to reject her, he had no idea that he was about to marry and have kids with his mother. By this time, the prophecy was then fulfilled, and no one had any idea about it. The prophecy ended here. There wasn’t anything anyone could do anymore. Many years passed and Oedipus came to be one of the greatest kings Thebes had ever seen.Until the city of Thebes fell under a terrible plague, and everything Oedipus knew went downhill from there. When Oedipus was informed that finding Laius’s murderer would help bring happiness back to Thebes, he was set on it, because he was a good king. â€Å"OEDIPUS: From whom of these our townsmen, and what house? ?SHEPHERD: Forbear for God's sake, master, ask no more. ?OEDIPUS: If I must question thee again, thou'rt lost . (1164-1167)† This exchange between Oedipus and the shepherd shows that Oedipus will stop at nothing to save his people and find the murderer.It wasn’t fate that led Oedipus to the truth, it was his own determination. He was completely blind to the truth, but when he figured out that all the clues pointed to him, he did something that most people wouldn’t do, he punished himself, he kept his word that Laius’s murderer would suffer, and Laius’s murderer did suffer indeed. He begged Creon to exile him; he gouged his own eyes out. Oedipus might be the one to blame for uncovering the truth, but he definitely isn’t the one to blame for killing Laius, it was set in stone for him, and there was no way around that.

The Chronicles Of Narnia essays

The Chronicles Of Narnia essays Narnia. Is a land of fantasy and adventure where magic and a Great Lion prevail. A land where so many people wish to be, a land from start to finish in The Chronicles of Narnia. Seven books written by Clive Staples Lewis have proven to be the most enchanting and mesmerizing books of all time. Pure beauty and amazing imagery allows the reader to become an explorer of Narnia and take part in the fascinating adventures bound to happen. Readers become one with the pages, not wanting to put the book down for fear of the wonderful land of Narnia escaping their minds. Not wanting to lose the joy and bliss as the words flow, page after page, book after book. The Chronicles of Narnia were first written by C.S. Lewis with children in mind. Easy dialogue and a sense of reality in the fantasy setting allows all ages to enjoy and fall in love with these books. The adventure begins with The Magician's Nephew. The reader is introduced to Digory Kirke and Polly Plumer. Digory's Uncle Andrew, a mad magician, doesn't fully understand the magic that he is dealing with. Andrew was given four rings when he was a child and when he received them, was ordered to throw them away and never think of them again. He didn't do so. By sheer trickery, Andrew convinces Polly to slip on one of the rings. When she did so, she opened the gates to the "Woods Between the Worlds." Here, she found a wooded area with ponds as far as the eye could reach. Digory went after his beloved playmate and soon the two of them embarked on an adventure that would change their lives forever. Charn was the first world, or pond, that they entered. After exploring this dark world with ancient ruins, they stumbled into a room where statues of royal families all sat in a row. An enchantment was put on them and Digory, being a mischievous boy, broke the enchantment awakening an evil witch. The witch, Jadis, had destroyed Charn and once the children realized how evil she was, they tri...

Words For Transportation in Spanish

Words For Transportation in Spanish If youre visiting an area where Spanish is spoken, youll need a means of transportation. Here are some of the most common ones, along with a sample sentence for each. Common Spanish Words For Transportation Airplane: el avià ³n. (An airport is un aeropuerto.) Los bebà ©s pueden viajar en avià ³n desde los primeros dà ­as de vida. Babies can travel by plane from the first days of life. Bicycle: la bicicleta, la bici. Cuando la gasolina subià ³ a cuatro dà ³lares, comprà © mi bicicleta para ir al trabajo. When gasoline rose to four dollars, I bought my bicycle for going to work. Boat: el barco, la bota, la barca, el ferry, la lancha, la chalupa, la canoa, la piragua, el kayak. (Names vary with type of boat and sometimes region.) Usted puede viajar en barco de una isla a otra sin problemas. You can travel by boat from one island to the other without problems. Bus: el bus, el autobà ºs, el à ³mnibus, el camià ³n, la camioneta, la chiva, el pullman. (Names vary with region and type of bus, and there are also other names not listed here.) El bus de Barcelona es probablemente el ms conveniente. The Barcelona bus is probably the most convenient. Car: el coche, el carro, el automà ³vil, el auto. Los nià ±os viajarn con ms seguridad en el coche si usan las sillas homologadas. Children will travel more safely in the car if they use approved car seats. Foot: el pie. El hotel se encuentra a 7 minutos a pie de la estacià ³n de ferrocarril. The hotel is located seven minutes by foot from the train station. Helicopter: el helicà ³ptero. El helicà ³ptero es una aeronave propulsada por uno o ms rotores horizontales. The helicopter is an aircraft propelled by one or more horizontal rotors. Horse: el caballo. Hay dos paseos a caballo al dà ­a, uno en la maà ±ana y uno en la tarde. There are two horseback rides a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Motorcycle: la motocicleta, la moto. Diarios de motocicleta es una pelà ­cula biogrfica basada en los diarios de viaje de Che Guevara y Alberto Granado. The Motorcycle Diaries is a biographical movie based on the trip diaries of Che Guevara and Alberto Granado. Subway: el metro, el subterrneo. El subterrneo de la Ciudad de Mà ©xico es uno de los ms modernos del mundo.  Mexico Citys subway is one of the most modern in the world. Taxi: taxi. Ofrecemos servicio de taxi seguro, rpido y confiable. We offer safe, fast and reliable taxi service. Train: el tren. (A high-speed train is often a tren de alta velocidad. An express train is known as a tren expreso, tren express or tren rpido. A sleeping car is usually known as a dormitorio. A railway is un ferrocarril.) Suiza es el paà ­s de los trenes de montaà ±a. Switzerland is the country of mountain trains. Truck: el camià ³n. (Other names are also used; a pickup truck is often known as una camioneta, un pickup or una pickup.) Busco trabajo de chofer de larga distancia en camiones. Im looking for work as a long-distance truck driver. Van: la furgoneta, la camioneta, la vagoneta, la buseta, el furgà ³n, el van. (Names vary with region and type of van.) La furgoneta Volkswagen fue popularizada por los hippies en Norteamà ©rica. The Volkswagen van was popularized by American hippies.

Beliefs In The Existence Of Ghosts And Poltergeists Term Paper

Beliefs In The Existence Of Ghosts And Poltergeists - Term Paper Example Saul was inclined to fits and visions, and perhaps in this instance, all that happened was that his imagination took over at a time when he was desperate. The prediction wasn’t even totally correct, although Saul would die at the hand of the Philistines – but that is likely to have happened anyway he was so disheartened. Webster’s Dictionary defines a ghost as being ‘a spirit or a demon, a disembodied soul.’ believed to be an inhabitant of an unseen world. Kipling, whose son died in the Ist World War and who might well have wanted contact with him, is warning people to leave well alone. The ghost of Samuel is not, of course, the only well known literary ghost. In the Odyssey, Homer describes how Circe advises Odysseus to consult the spirits of the dead. ( Odyssey 11 v 23-28.) There is also Hamlet’s father in Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Banquo in his Macbeth., the ghosts being devices to explain a character’s inner feelings or move the story on. ‘Whethering Heights’ by Emily Brontà © ( 1847) has its Kathy clawing at the windows. Dickens, of course, had Marley appearing to Scrooge ( A Christmas Carol, 1843), one of the few instances in literature where some good resulted. In modern-day films, we have the Ghostbusters and of course the Harry Potter films, both of which show ghosts as being evil things, although J.K. Rowling also portrays more gentle beings such as Harry’s parents. In C.S. Lewis’s ‘The Great Divorce’ (1945) the author describes ghosts who have to choose whether to give up their sins and go to he aven or whether they prefer to retain them and go to hell. Stevie Smith in her 1953 poem ‘ Not waving but drowning’ has the dead man explaining his predicament.