Sexuality and identity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sexuality and identity - Essay Example There is need to provide them with useful learning materials, services and the opportunity to feel part of the society. The lack of appropriate sex education in Jake’s past life is the main undoing of the education system that he has gone through. By contrast the presence of only heterosexual lessons which attempt to address the needs of the community has resulted in gay people like Jake being labelled as ‘abnormal’. As Hoshall (2013) has argued, the procrastination to include sex education for the gay community (the absence) has triggered the ‘presence’ of labels, hatred and relegation of the likes of Jake as semi-human in society. Proponents of sex education argue that the incorporation of gay issues into such programs would limit homophobic intimidation, improve the welfare of gay community, and limit cases of seclusion that affect gay students (Williams, Prior and Wegner, 2013). Jake’s relegation from the social spheres of life, which is to blame for loss of self-confidence would have been resolved through tolerance programs for gays at school (Yip et al, 2013). Nonetheless, his suffering could have been the result of the ‘superiority’ of heterosexuals and sex education programs for the community as opposed to gays. According to Byrd (2011), the ‘weird’ programs for gays may have been shelved to avoid a political perception on learners that could deviate their thinking from supposedly moral ways of life. Gay sex education is as of now not included in many learning programs. This situation has cast Jake in bad light. Studies have also indicated that affected students usually do not find current sex education programs for gays to be appropriate (Woodford et al, 2012). Jake is one such case; he has pointed out that the whole learning environment including instructors, fellow students, and the immediate community have had conflicting perceptions on the

Humans versus Nature-- which selects better for human survival, from a Essay - 2

Humans versus Nature-- which selects better for human survival, from a biological point of view - Essay Example ground concepts of natural selection, gene inheritance and anomalies, and adaptation will be important in trying to understand some of the decisions human beings have made. The paper will also assess how the contemporary society has responded to health and adaptation challenges in the bio environment from the perspective of nature and genetics. Human adaptation to natural environment is under constant challenge, prompting a continuous process of biological evolution. Human being’s capability for adaptation shaped his life on a number of ways. Man evolved to an upright posture, enlarged of brain, ability to make and use tools, emergence of sophisticated mental and social behavior. Human beings later developed technology to change his environment and improve their health. Therefore, nature seems to be having great influence on human survival decisions (BBC 1). Natural selection as one of the biological factors for human survival was based on the fact that the environment selected the most adaptable organisms to pass on their genetic materials. Natural selection means that organisms that were best adapted survived the harsh conditions of the environment whereas those that were poorly adapted died. Organisms that survived were able to interbreed and therefore, pass on their good genetic traits to their young ones. As organisms that had survived interbred, the crossing over genetic materials ensured genetic variation and genetic inheritance. Resulting organisms were those ones that constantly evolved and adapted to the environment. This does not mean that environmentally acquired traits were inherited, but that the environment naturally selected organism that were best adapted. It is said that human evolution took the same process of natural selection where those with good traits survived the harsh environment while those that were poorly adapted died and did not pass their traits to offspring. Inheritance, adaptation and natural selection still matter in the

Tiziano Vecellios Art Style and the Italian Renaissance

Tiziano Vecellios Art Style and the Italian Renaissance In history, art has changed frequently. With new concepts and experimental ways, the new art forms slowly become accepted by society, while the previous techniques fade into the background; however, the old techniques are not forgotten. Within every era, the new techniques that come from the creative minds and their ideas, have established more from the inspiration of old skills, like the change from Renaissance to Mannerism; this lead to the furthering of different art styles in the future generations. Background info on genre, time period and country of origin The Italian Renaissance was the arising point of modern age. The period stretched from 1400 to 1550, originating from Florence, Italy. It was the revival of scientific and artistic innovations. It was also the revitalization of Greek and Roman learning. This essential time period linked the relation of the middle ages to the modern age. The Italian Renaissance was split into two phases, the Early Renaissance and the High Renaissance. The High Renaissance, at the climax of Renaissance art from 1500 to 1525, was the result of the culmination of the different artistic progression of the Early Renaissance. During the 1520s of the Italian Renaissance, High Renaissance was exaggerated to Mannerism. The High Renaissance was an era that brought total creative genius to the world in history. Characterisitcs of art being done during that time and mediums used The changes in art during the Italian Renaissance were clearly seen in paintings and sculptures. While the artists continued to use religious subject matter, they combined the idea with the principles of the human figure and the appeal in depicting nature. Artists began experimenting with their paintings by using oil-based paints, which were workable for several months due to the slow drying pace of the paints. The fresco technique, developed during the Italian Renaissance and used by artists like Michelangelo, involved painting on plasters walls. Light and perspective was familiarized to give a sense of reality through three-dimensional imagery. Artists gained new insight and techniques to their concept of space and form in the Italian Renaissance, which has thus changed art forever. Background info on artist Tiziano Vecellio, also more famously known as Titian, was one of the greatest artists of the High Rennaissance. He was born in Pieve di Cadore, Italy. The year of his birth is highly disputed between scholars, but it is believed to be between 1477 and 1488. As a young boy, he was an apprentice to Giovanni Bellinni, another outstanding painter in Italy at the time. In 1508, the now young independent painter, Titian, joined the Venetian painter, Giorgione to beautify the facade of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice. Titians work was mistaken as a new and improved style of Giorgione. The teamwork between the two artists led to more art collaboration; together, they explored oil painting techniques, by ways like directly applying an undiluted medium on the canvas. At the death of Giovanni Bellini in 1516, it left Titian with no adversary in Venice, which let him receive his old masters job as the official painter to the Republic. His first major public commission was the Assumption of the Virgin which was painted for the Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice. In 1533, he was appointed as the court painter of Charles V, the most powerful man of the century, being Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the King of Spain. In 1548, he spent nine months in Augsburg with the Imperial Court. After half a decade, he commences a series of poesie for Phillip II in 1554. Although Titian was not a man of much education, he was one of great talent. Titian was an elegant and charming man who was also attractive and interesting in conversation, which made it easy for him to build relationships and connections with powerful people. Over the span of twenty years, Titian created relationships and connections with princely patronage, while continuing work for other Venetian churches. As he grew older, his eyesight worsened and his hand control was weakening. Unfortunately, during a plague outbreak, Titian died, on August 27, 1576, as a rich and famous man. He was interred into the Church of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari. His universal reputation continues to be known to this modern day. Styles and techniques used by artist Titian was an infamous Venetian painter during the High Renaissance. He was known for his bright rich colours and his bold brush work. The bold use of colour and the lush sumptuous layers were the result of much preparation, the medium used and the surface chosen. Mythological paintings, religious paintings, portraits, and churches were just some of the works he accomplished. His artwork should be viewed from a distance to get the as it was desired to be seen. Much of his skills were influenced by Giorgione, where he improved his style with new elements and perfection. From 1530 to 1550, his approach and style became more and more dramatic. The unique practices Titian painted with combined with his great talent were what made him an amazing painter. As Titian matured as an artist, he had as specific methods to his paintings. First, he sketched his pictures with loads of colour that forms the groundwork of the work of art. For up to several months, without looking, he left his composition facing a wall. He then returned to them to build up figures, make changes, and correct any wrongs. When retouching his working, he dealt with highlights by harmonizing colours and tones by rubbing the composition with his fingers. An alternate way was by adding strokes and bright spots with his fingers to perfect his work. As he grew older, he began to paint with his fingers more. He believed that It is not bright colors but good drawing that makes figures beautiful. Detailed analysis of artwork Titians masterpiece, Bacchanal of the Andrians, shows that it is a complete success through design elements. The composition of the work of art is arranged with the human figures spread out evenly across the horizontal span of the canvas. The colours involved are rich and bold; they are not too bright to be overtaking the whole piece. The harmonic bond between the tones and colour that is used by Titian is infamous. The contrast in colour between the two sides balances each other out. The contrast in colour in the dress of the dancing couple compared to the rest of the drinking people, bring it out two a secondary focal point. With naked woman in the corner as the focal point, it brings the eyes throughout the painting, from the focal point to the dancing couple to the other people. Bachannal of the Adrians seems to be interpreting a message of celebration. This may be the possibility of a marriage due to the dancing couple in bolder colours and the amount of activities (drinking, partying, and sheet music) involved. However, these actions could also indicate a celebration due to the homecoming of an important person. The characters involved in the work of art have great meaning too. The woman in the white dress may represent innocence; the other ladies may represent vulnerability and jealousy as seen from their positioning and facial emotions. The nude men surrounding the other women may represent lust and want, as they are in some way in contact, physically or optically, to the women. Conclusion New art techniques were and still are developed through time. Titian, one of the greatest artists of the high Renaissance, was one who established new skills and techniques from others through his life that inspired others to create more throughout history. There are many steps involved in art to fuel to this advancement. According to Titian, Painting done under pressure by artists without the necessary talent can only give rise to formlessness, as painting is a profession that requires peace of mind. http://www.artinthepicture.com/artists/Titian/Quotes/

Franklin Roosevelts New Deal Essays -- American History

It was called "relief." Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal provided relief to millions of Americans who had lost their homes, their jobs, and their hope. Many others felt that the radical new policies of FDR threatened the sanctity of the Constitution and free enterprise. Roosevelt's New Deal policies had many critics but among the most vocal were groups like the American Liberty League and powerful Socialists who argued that the New Deal policies either went too far or not far enough in solving the problems that faced the nation. Roosevelt's critics came from both ends of the political spectrum. The American Liberty League was an opposing group made up of conservative businessmen and corporate leaders. Believing that the free enterprise system was being attacked, they accused Roosevelt of trying to install a dictatorship in place of the federal government. In an excerpt from a 1935 article in Fortune magazine, the Roosevelt Administration is thought to be a government of men and not laws. The author compares Roosevelt to a dictator and calls his theory of federal administration "menacing and dangerous". Another political cartoon printed in the June 1936 issue of Current History, ridicules the Liberty League as being alarmist in accusing Roosevelt of bringing communism into the country. Herbert Hoover, a former president, agreed with the conservative ideas of this group. He disagreed with New Deal Legislation such as the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) or the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA). The basic idea of these New Deal programs was to lower the supply of goods to the current, depressed level of consumption. Under the AAA, the government sought to raise farm prices by paying farmers not to grow surplus crops. Other ... ...ved that Roosevelt did not care about ending poverty, but instead was more concerned about the fortunes of his wealthy associates. Known as being the most dramatic and innovative movement in modern history, the New Deal helped Americans find a new sense of hope for the future that was once thought to be forever lost. Although the New Deal didn't necessarily end the Great Depression, it successfully played a major role in relieving the distress of unemployment and poverty for many. However, it was the first time that government had played such an active role in the nation's economy and because of that many worried about the future of the nation. Some of Roosevelt's experimental programs are still in effect today. Programs such as Social Security, the FDIC and the SEC have become an integral part of society and they play as important a role today as they did in 1935.

Biographical Analysis of John Mcwhorter

Han Bin Kim Comp II, Class B Assignment 2, Draft 1 February 23, 2013 John McWhorter Interview Over the years I have interviewed a good number of people, but there has never been anyone quite like John McWhorter. Upon reading the article â€Å"The Cosmopolitan Tongue: The Universality of English† as published in the 2009 Fall edition of World Affairs, I found myself delighted by the mellow but powerful tone and the writer who could use it with such ease. Here was a man with brains, consideration, and humor.Lost in my reveries about what McWhorter would be like, I didn’t quite realize that I had somehow dialed his office number until a deep voice filtered through the receiver. â€Å"Yes? McWhorter speaking. † With a tingling sense of nervousness I had forgotten since my rookie days, I introduced myself and asked if he could spare time for a brief interview. He replied, â€Å"Interviews, my dear sir, are rarely brief,† and I could almost hear his smile. There was that brilliant wit which had inspired him to state that there were â€Å"no feminine-gendered tables that talk like Penelope Cruz. (McWhorter, 251) After a turn or two of friendly wrangling, he gently suggested meeting Saturday afternoon at a quiet cafe we both knew. I agreed to the designated rendezvous and, unable to control the temptation, asked, â€Å"How long have you said cafe like that? † The way McWhorter pronounced the word was this: the ‘c’ was sweeter and lighter, in the way Italians and Spaniards speak, and the ‘f’ was said like a soft ‘p’—sounding simply foreign. He said simply, â€Å"Since I was very young. I already knew that he had â€Å"taught himself languages as a hobby since childhood† (McWhorter, 247), and unsatisfied as I was with his answer, I vowed that Saturday would be a new day. On Saturday afternoon I drove down a peaceful country road and walked silently into the cafe. A tall man stood wi th his back to me, gazing out the large French window, and without prologue asked, â€Å"Isn’t that a beautiful poem right in front of us? Anne Shirley said it a century ago, but I’ll take the liberty to repeat it.The lines and verses are only the outward garments of the poem; the real poem is the soul within them†¦ and that beautiful scene is the soul of an unwritten poem. † I smiled quietly at his analytical but sensitive analogy, reminded immediately of his description of the word ‘al— â€Å"an evergreen branch, a word whose final sound is a whistling past the sides of the tongue that sounds like wind passing through just such a branch. † (McWhorter, 247) I later asked him what his childhood nickname had been, and laughing, he confessed that he had most often been called â€Å"poet†.Small wonder for a man who could condense a long, everyday sentence—say, for example, â€Å"there are an innumerable number of books that c ould have summed up to no mean weight†Ã¢â‚¬â€into three pithy, creative, imagery-filled words: â€Å"Bookstore shelves groan. † (McWhorter, 247) He folded his long self into the armchair, crossing his legs, and leaning slightly forward he told me to sit down. As I sat, I remarked, â€Å"You look a great deal like I imagined you to be. † His quiet question and intelligent gaze compelled me to elucidate.I had gathered much of the premises from his writing. The contrasting thoughts â€Å"I hardly rejoice when a language dies† (McWhorter, 247) and â€Å"Would it be inherently evil if there were not 6,000 spoken languages but one? † (McWhorter, 252) could hardly have revealed themselves in a single piece of writing unless the writer was a man of exceptionally precise, cold logic. Thus I had already envisioned the deep-set, handsome eyes that flashed fire from under his brow, and the firmly set mouth. I had also imagined him to be a handsome man, and he was that, too.Humor saved the chin from tapering too sharply, the mouth from being dour: â€Å"Spanish speakers do not go about routinely imagining tables as cooing in feminine tones. † (McWhorter, 249) McWhorter laughed at my analysis, wryly telling me that I should have gone out for professional work in physiognomy, and handed me the menu which the waitress had left by his side. These little considerate actions which I had noticed during the phone call and the three minutes I had met him, inspired me to ask if he had always been so considerate. He looked surprised. I have never thought myself considerate,† he said slowly, â€Å"I am often told that I am too frank with my words. Before I make my opinion on something, I look at it from all perspectives to check that it is perfectly reasonable and logical. But once I make it, I say it without stopping to think if people who think otherwise will be hurt by my words. † I protested. I had already known that he was a considerate person just by reading his article; namely, the welcoming way with which he drew his readers in: â€Å"Most Americans pronounce disgusting as â€Å"diss-kusting† with a k sound. Try it—you probably do too. )† (McWhorter, 248) The tall man leaned back in the armchair and laughed. â€Å"My dear friend, every writer is obligated to welcome his readers. Readers are the laziest species that ever drew breath, and if they don’t feel welcomed, they won’t read. As for being patient in littler things—well, I don’t know if this is very relevant or not, but I read five versions of the Talmud, each one progressively harder, when I was in middle school. I’m pretty sure junior high was when my interest in Hebrew peaked.The Talmud was a pretty good source of linguistic and cultural knowledge, and some of the moral standards made pretty logical sense, so I adopted them as my own. † It was relevant. Being considerate in a gent lemanly way, however, was different from the deferential attitude that McWhorter always took on when dealing with other cultures. More curious was how completely he seemed to understand each language, from its origin to how the people felt about it—â€Å"Native American groups would bristle at the idea that they are no longer meaningfully â€Å"Indian† simply because they no longer speak their ancestral language. (McWhorter, 249) McWhorter looked a trifle annoyed at first, but gradually his well-shaped face took on more complacent, amused lines. â€Å"I am a writer, and I am a linguist,† he said. â€Å"Both have to do with words—their denotation, connotation, nuance, and power. Knowing the power each word can wield automatically inspires you to feel a certain reverence for the English vocabulary in general—I’m sure you’ll agree with me there, sir—and knowing the power each language can wield brings you on your knees before th e altar of all languages. † â€Å"But you don’t worship something you know absolutely nothing about,† he aid, gazing out at the sunlit scene again. â€Å"You first make sure that whatever it is, it is something that deserves to be worshipped. So you study the language. From then on, it’s rather like jumping into a river. Jump into the heart of the current, and you will be swept away like a stray autumn leaf. If you give yourself wholeheartedly up for the language to mold, the culture starts to mold you too. And as for the fact that I feel this way towards all languages,† and here a small frown creased his brow as he turned to me again, â€Å"well, it is a shame that this should be surprising, that is all.Each language has a rich legacy, albeit a legacy very different from our own, and they should be respected. † McWhorter’s eloquence touched me, and we talked for two more hours, vacillating from common everyday things I caught glimpses of from his article to fascinating facts I had never dreamed about him. I learned that he had mastered Socrates’ syllogisms at the age of six and Hegelian dialectics at the age of twelve, and that the value he respected most in humanity was its reason.Judging by the cold shoulder he gave his so beloved minority languages in his concluding paragraph—â€Å"We must consider the question in its pure, logical essence† (McWhorter, 252)—it was hardly surprising. More interesting was the fact that he had no less than four dogs at home, each named after a rare language he had specially enjoyed. The latest addition to the family was a darling slender little Chihuahua named Ket, with triple the uncertain grace of awkwardness found in dogs of his species. In the middle of hearing about Ket’s antics, I asked rather abruptly, â€Å"What art form is your favorite?Modernist? † McWhorter looked at me, surprised. â€Å"How did you guess? † I laughed. McWhorter, for a man of such clear-cut logic, enjoyed impossibilities as far as reality allowed— â€Å"The Ket language of Siberia is so awesomely irregular as to seem a work of art. † (McWhorter, 250) It was only natural that he should enjoy Picasso, whose pictures showed sharper intellectual insight, over David or Michelangelo, whose works were but excellent facsimiles of life’s appearance copied onto canvas and marble.Four hours passed by in the blink of an eye and time came for McWhorter to leave. He stood up and cordially shook my hand. â€Å"It was an honor meeting you, sir, though I dare say the interview was not short. † I shook my head. â€Å"No, it was an excellent interview. Thank you very much, Mr. McWhorter. † â€Å"Please, John,† McWhorter smilingly said. â€Å"If there’s one thing I learned from studying languages, it is that names are the essence of culture. I’ve seen many languages that are creative and fiendi shly difficult and random—but no language is ever simpler than the other.Each has rich names for the things they treasure most. Native Americans sometimes have odd names; did you know that they have to earn it? But in our culture, we place identification foremost—and thanks be, my name is John McWhorter; John for friends and Mr. McWhorter for editors who don’t like my articles. † â€Å"Aren’t there many Johns here? † I teased, laughing, as I pulled on my coat. McWhorter shook his head. â€Å"None like me, John McWhorter,† he smiled, and treaded lightly out the door.

Puppy Love Essay

Every day there are animals that are abused and neglected by heartless individuals. We live by the quote, â€Å"A dog is a man’s best friend†. But how is it that one can do such horrid things to a best friend? Puppy mills, animal hoarders, and careless owners are only a few of the biggest contributors to this horrifically criminal act. It breaks my heart to drive to school everyday and be greeted by an animal out on the road flatter than a pancake, or just roaming around looking for scraps of food and darting away anytime a little kid sticks its head out and shouts, â€Å"Oh, what a cute doggy!† And around where I live it is, sadly, an everyday scene. My next door neighbors, whom I classify to be careless pet owners, exemplify what I see everywhere. Their house is falling apart on top of them. The sewer tank leaks and feeds the steroid-like pricker plants that cover most of the backyard. They have 3 puppies of different breeds, from the same mother. I know, it sounds improbable, but I had seen the mother a few times before, when I drove past their house. Let me tell you, she was not the cutest dog on the planet! Anyhow, after discovering my neighbors had puppies in their backyard, it came to mind that I had not seen the mother dog running around for the last few days. I asked with concern, â€Å"Where is their mother?† My neighbor replied with, â€Å"She died†. I found that statement hard to believe. She was so protective that I found that statement very hard to believe. That claim seemed to be vastly illogical. So anyway, for the past 3 months; give or take; my family and I have been setting out fresh water everyday, because we know that they hop the wall either to explore or leave us â€Å"little presents† all over the front yard. Two of the puppies have long fur, which has become matted in several places around their bodies. In addition, on a regular basis; my mom has to cut the prickers that have become entangled in their little paws, around their lips, and buried in their belly. It is very traumatizing to have to see them live in this†¦ well I guess you could consider it to be a sewer pit. Over the summer I had volunteered over at the community animal shelter out of my desire to help out with the animals. Upon my arrival to Pet Guardian Angel, what I thought was going to be a very rewarding experience; where I felt that I was contributing to a good cause, became to be very disheartening. There were so many animals stuck in cages, in their own filth, terrified of human contact and so needy of the human contact they were afraid of. The smell of ammonia made my eyes water and made me feel slightly unwell for several hours after I left the premises. I wondered what the chances were that these helpless beings would find a loving home out here, where the bulk of their peers lived in the same ugly circumstances. Not very good. I left depressed and uncertain if I wanted to come back, but feeling guilty for considering not going back. I feel a great passion for dogs, in particular, who, through no fault of their own, live in filth and know no human kindness for their entire lives. I also feel a great sense of futility. This won’t change until people change their hearts and stop thinking of just themselves, and start unselfishly putting the welfare of the helpless first.