The Thought Process of Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- William Shakespea

The Thought Process of Shakespeare's Hamlet "If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away, And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes, Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it. Who does it then? His madness. If't be so, Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd; His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy." (V.ii.230-235) Hamlet's self-description in his apology to Laertes, delivered in the appropriately distanced and divided third-person, explicitly fingers the greatest antagonist of the play†¹consciousness. The obligatory cultural baggage that comes along with Hamlet heeds little attention to the incestuous Claudius while focusing entirely on the gloomy Dane's legendary melancholia and his resulting revenge delays. As Laurence Olivier introduced his 1948 film version, "This is the tragedy of a man who couldn't make up his mind." By tracking the leitmotif of "thought" throughout the play, I will examine the conflicts that preclude Hamlet from unified decisions that lead to action. Shakespeare is not content, however, with the simple notion of thought as a mere signifier of the battle between the mind and the body. The real clash is a conflict of consciousness, of Hamlet's oscillations between infinite abstraction and shackled solipsism, between recognition of the heroic ideal and of his lim ited means, between the methodical mishmash of sanity and the total chaos of insanity. I repeat "between" not only for anaphoric effect, but to suggest Shakespeare's conception of thought; that is, a set of perspectivally-splintered realities which can be resolutely conflated, for better or worse, only by the mediating hand of action. Any discussion of Hamlet, a work steeped in contradictions and doubles, necessitates inquiry into passages ... ...ble that someday the legendary cultural baggage that accompanies Hamlet will be lost, and future generations may wish to judge the play on its dramatic merits and not on its required-reading position. If that is the case, they may very well "make" the play "bad" through their different perspective, one which we cannot yet appreciate, and Hamlet, already four centuries old, may disappear from our cultural consciousness. As the prince himself might say, perish the thought. Works Cited: Fredric Jameson, Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism (Durham: Duke University Press, 1991). Franco Moretti, Modern Epic (New York: Verso, 1996). Marjorie Nicolson, "The Breaking of the Circle" (Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1950). William Shakespeare, The Arden Shakespeare: Hamlet, ed. Harold Jenkins (England: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1982).

Food security Essay

The role of urban agriculture in food security and healthy nutrition is probably the most important asset. Production of food in cities is in many cases a response of the urban poor to inadequate, unreliable and irregular access to food, and the lack of purchasing power. Urban agriculture, to a large extent, complements rural agriculture and increases the efficiency of the national food system in that it provides products that rural agriculture cannot supply easily. For instance perishable products that require rapid delivery upon harvest can be produced in cities where facilities are readily available. Environmental Urban agriculture has helped a lot in maintaining the environment that has been depleted so much. This can happen in several ways. For instance farmers use waste water for irrigational purposes in their farms. However farmers need to be trained in self protection during handling of the waste water, proper crop selection and adequate irrigation methods, among many other things. Farming in urban areas means rehabilitating the already depleted lands in the urban areas. By doing this, the farmers are able to help save the environment that has been wasted by pollution (DeWalt, 1985). 4. Case study, Washington D. C Urban agriculture was part of an historical welfare system during the 18th and 19th centuries in Washington D. C. Urban residents had access to areas of urban agriculture land that was distributed to meet the needs of urban inhabitants and all the people who lived in Washington D. C. Individuals who lived in and around the city had adequate land to practice urban agriculture (Ross, 2007). The history of urban agriculture in Washington was mainly meant to help reduce the number of poverty cases in the city (Ross, 2003). The growth and development of allowance gardens in Washington during the 20th century was in similar ways objectively aiming at supporting urban working class families and individuals. The problem today aims in the same direction, where growth and development of urban agriculture in Washington, more especially in low income areas, relates to problems of food quality, social welfare and public health. Nevertheless, urban agriculture in Washington today is made up of an increasing urban demand for organic local food production, particularly among the urban middle societies. Historically in Washington, a small number of upper class urban residents had access to very large areas of land (Ross, 2000). This group was not producing for self-support in first hand, but had the requirements of selling part of their locally produced harvest, as food was difficult to transport. Urban agriculture in Washington has thus had many functions of social welfare and commercial activity. Interesting historical lessons and comparisons can be made as we discuss the function and role of urban agriculture in Washington today (Ross, 1978). 5. Challenges and implementation Urban agriculture has faced a lot of challenges despite its many positive impacts. The use of waste water for irrigation without careful treatment and monitoring can result in the spread of diseases among the population. This has been a challenge to the urban agriculture and it has reduced the attitude of the urban residents towards the food products from urban farmers. Cultivation of food crops on contaminated land can cause health hazards for the consumers (Bell, 1998). This has led to decrease in demand of the urban agricultural products and it is the whole concept that lacks the benefits that it deserves. The cultivation of food crops and the rearing of animals along road sides facilitate the distribution of products to local markets. However, this poses some health risks since it exposes foods to a number of pollutants such as car emissions. It is evident that urbanization and agriculture are very incompatible. There has been stiff competition for the urban agriculture, for labor and resources, and it is unfortunate most individuals prefer to work in an industry or firms than to work in farms. This has led to poor labor as a factor of production and what results is the poor output in the food production. The practice of urban agriculture has been criticized by those who believe in industrial food production. The critics argue that food can be produced at larger volumes and perfect quality in a more efficient and sustainable way. This criticism has led to many people lacking trust in the urban agricultural products (Bell, 1998). The only mean of implementing the methods of urban agriculture will be through educating the public about the importance of embracing the culture. Addressing issues on genetic applications in food production will be important in acceptance of the novel technologies by the public. The companies applying advanced technologies in agriculture should not hide anything from the farmers (Clark, 1999).Water treatments systems should be improved to ensure that water used for agricultural food production is safe for human health. Reference: Amin, S. (2002). Africa: Living on the Fringe. Monthly Review (March), pp. 41-50. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from, http://polisci. osu. edu/faculty/mcooper/ps597readings/Amin. pdf Bell, J. (1998). A Greener Than Green Revolution? Seedling (Newsletter of GRAIN Retrieved May 3, 2010 from, http://www. grain. org/publications/dec982-en. cfm Bruno, K. (1992). The Corporate capture of the Earth Summit. Retrieved May 3, 2010 from http://multinationalmonitor. org/hyper/issues/1992/07/mm0792 07. html Clark, E. (1999). Ten Reasons Why Farmers Should Think Twice Before Growing GE Crops. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from, http://www. plant. uoguelph. ca/research/homepages/eclark/10reasons. htm DeWalt, B. (1985). Mexico’s Second Green Revolution: Food for Feed. Mexican Studies / Estudios Mexicanos, 1(1):29-60. FAO. (n. d). Overall strategic framework. Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http://www. fao. org/docrep/X3550e/x3550e03. htm Feder, E. (1970). Counterreform. In Rodolfo Stavenhagen, Agrarian Problems and Peasant Movements in Latin America. Garden City, NY: Doubleday. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from, http://www. ditext. com/feder/counterreform. html Langevin, M & Rosset, P. (1997). Land Reform from Below: The Landless Workers Movement in Brazil. Retrieved May 4, 2010 from, http://www. mstbrazil. org/rosset. html Martine, G. , Guzman, J. M. , & Schensul, D. (2008). The Growing Food Crisis: Demographic Perspectives and Conditioners. Retrieved May 4th, 2010 from http://km. fao. org/fileadmin/user_upload/fsn/docs/UNFPAFoodCrisis_Demographics Nov19-versionMarch20. pdf Neondo, H. (2003). Kenya-Experts call for Urba

Me and Music Essay

As the earphones filled my ears with wonder I could feel nothing more than the ecstasy I was in. It was as if nothing else in the world mattered. At that time I could feel nothing more than the shadows that covered my heart, but the music I heard inspired me in such a way that no one else could understand the way I felt. I was beautiful, the world was beautiful, and nothing else could possibly be as beautiful as the way I feel. When I stopped the music, I became quiet, the world became quiet, and everything simply stopped. This is the only time I can say that I truly heard music. I used to be very social, very active, like a fish in the gigantic ocean. I used to have lots of friends, and a girlfriend who I was deeply in love with. That love story last for a year. We broke up after a year, when I still loved her so much. I became a silent boy and cut all the connections with friends as same as outside world. It was a hurricane came and almost drowned me and in this violent raging storm and I lost my way. I clung to music as if it was a raft for life, as if it was a key for me to make it up living in this world. Somehow it worked. Not just worked, but worked well. After a long summer †¦ I came back to school. It was my first day at school and I all I can remember was the first moment I put on my headphones and pressed play on my blue Sony Walkman, which later became my joy. The album playing was â€Å"Crush† by Bon Jovi and each song became instantly carved into my memory. It felt like it was a whole new world and I finally opened my eyes and just stepped into this fantasy world and everything else around me lost its importance. It was a feeling that just took everything that was wrong, messed up, confusing and painful inside of me and transformed it into something that I knew for the first time was right. The pain was still there but I found a way to just keep in check so that no one else would have to ask me these dreadful questions that brought me so much pain every time I heard â€Å"Are you OK?† and â€Å"Do you want to talk?†. I knew that there was something wrong when other people think about me as a quiet guy who doesn’t have any friends and listens to music all the time. To be honest, I have friends, but just about 2, or 3. I didn’t feel like making new friends at school and I prefer to find some form of happiness from music no matter how little it was. Music came to me not only as a form of relief, but it’s a way for me to express something, maybe not to other people, but to myself. It showed me that I still have personal feelings, and that I was even remotely normal. Back to school, me alone and music, I felt its ok; it’s going to be ok, at first. But just by the end of the day, when I got home, alone, thinking about other people at school, enjoy with their friends, I realized that music wasn’t going to be able to be my life raft so I clung to something, what some consider dark and fed off this darkness. I need friends in my life. I need friends to cheer up my gloomy life. I just want to be like them, like other people who got friends. As the days, weeks and months went on that I talked and gained new friends, I found that my life boat was becoming less and less needed as people were finally starting to accept me for me. The darkness and pain are still there, locked up deep inside where no one can hear there violent screams but now I know that I have more than just my music and lifeboat because when another storm comes, I have others who can help me survive.

Silence of the lambs essays

Silence of the lambs essays How do the features of narrative and genre create meaning and generate response within the audience? The film starts with a high angle establishing shot of a forest setting, with the diegetic sounds of stereotypical forest or mountain area sound effects such as the chirps of insects and the distant calls of an eagle. The camera then tilts downwards to show the lead protagonist jogging towards us, Agent Clarice Starling (Foster.) As she draws near her footsteps become clearer which are heavily treading through the leaves and branches. The non-diegetic music has classical elements and is similar to the characters movements, which keeps building up and down and remains somewhat tense throughout the first few minutes. The camera then switches to a mid-tracking shot and follows her from behind. This jog could represent the characters journey that is about to begin, as she ducks and dives through trees and pushes on. She is wearing casual exercise clothing, which tells us little about the character other than she likes, or has to keep fit. As the scene progresses there is a side tra cking shot close up on her face displaying sweat and determination and indicating to the audience that she is quite tired. The camera then switches to a similar shot but of her feet running along the forest path. She is soon interrupted by a mans voice which she stops and confronts, we then discover that she is in fact linked to the FBI and has been called to her seniors. Having been sent to an office of some description, the next part of the scene starts with the main character jogging towards a new area. This contains marching military personnel in camouflage gear and the diegetic sounds of gun fire in the background indicating to the audience that this is come kind of military complex. An establishing shot ensues showing what appears to be the main building, and the next part of our protagonists journey. She makes her way throu...

Positive Effects of Reality Television Essays

Positive Effects of Reality Television Essays Positive Effects of Reality Television Paper Positive Effects of Reality Television Paper Reality Television Its Sunday night, the work is done and you are ready to sit down and relax. You walk down the stairs, make some popcorn, cuddle up on the couch, and flip on your favorite reality television show. On that Sunday evening you will not only have one reality show to choose from but many because reality television is becoming commonplace. These shows range from competitions to find your future spouse to episodes documenting the life of celebrities. What each show has in common is that is highlights interpersonal relationships. While most parents are stealing the remote o prevent their children from watching reality television, they should be doing the opposite. Even though many believe these shows destroy society, more evidence indicates that the shows benefit and assist people, encouraging them to strengthen their own relationships and make smart decisions within them. Due to reality television becoming more popular it is important to understand its true effects. Reality television shows benefit relationships by providing positive tips, lessons, and examples of what a healthy and positive relationship should be. One type of interpersonal relationships is romantic relationships, which are often expressed on reality dating shows. The heart of dating reality television is Abss The Bachelor. Every season is about a single, handsome, and successful man that is introduced to 25 stunning women in hopes that one of them will be his future wife. Week by week he sends one of the women packing back to her home. At the end of the six-week period he will have one dream woman remaining to whom he will propose. The Bachelor is a great example off program that positively benefits the relationships of viewers. Dana Cloud, a Communication Studies professor, studies their investment and influence that is the result of their attachment and commitment. She disputes that the viewers emotional investment in the show stirs trouble in their own personal relationships. Cloud believes the overload of viewers attachment in the show is obvious by social media comments. On twitter one user tweeted twice in one day about the program and her opinions; these users help verify the attachment of many viewers (Roth). While Cloud argues their investment is negative, psychology suggests the viewers are benefiting from it. Tiffany Brewer argues, The general premise of the social cognitive theory is that people learn from observing others actions and attitudes and the consequences they face as a result. This process is known as modeling and is a core premise of entertainment education (12). The theory implies that viewers are going to apply the positive behavior to their own personal romantic relationships and learn what not to do from the negative behavior by investing themselves in the reality programs. The Bachelor not only benefits the viewers but also many of the participants. Many of the couples that became engaged at the end of the season have moved on past the show and created families. Ryan Suttee the winner of Triads heart from season one of The Bachelors tweeted, Beautiful day to spend with my beautiful wife and kids. So grateful! Him and Tristan have been married for over ten years now and have children. Another example off beneficial relationship is Jason and Molly another chance. Jason, who had a kid from a previous marriage, is now married to Molly and they have a newborn baby. Molly posted a tweet after her baby was born eying, Thank you everyone for all of the well wishes! Riley is such a dream and couldnt be more perfect! We are so happy and in love!!!! #Erlenmeyers. Both of these tweets suggest that the show has benefited couples from The Bachelor. Dating shows are not the only types of reality television shows that affect relationships. In addition to romantic relationships reality television involving competitions, such as The Amazing Race, improve existing relationships between friends and family. The Amazing Race is a reality game show, which typically eleven teams of two race around the world. These partners range from husband and wife to mother and her son racing roughly twelve legs interspersed with physical and mental challenges. Critics have argued reality games shows bring out the worse sides of the contestants, but actually most contestants seem to have really positive experiences. Terry Gross, the host of Philadelphia public radio, offered contestants his opinion that shows like The Amazing Race are designed to bring out the worst in people because you have to be brutally competitive, incredibly aggressive, and honest in the cruelest sense. While Gross is arguing these game shows are punishing relationships, CBS offers elimination interviews of the contestants that imply the opposite. One team, Jessica and John, stated, [a]after running around the world and having your view expanded it makes it more clear than ever how fortunate all of us are. For Jessica and John The Amazing Race offered the insight to appreciate one another in order to strengthen their relationship. Many other couples agree that the show has been beneficial. Another couple Pam and Winnie commented, we would do it again in a heartbeat. We loved the Race so much. We would do it again even if there was no prize money. Their quote also provides evidence on how The Amazing Race gave them an opportunity of a lifetime that they were able to experience together only helped make them closer. There are many sources that support the the participants arguing the benefits of The Amazing Race. In 2006, National Geographic Magazine published an article declaring, [I]f anyone can tell you how to travel outside your comfort zone, embrace risk, and come back alive, its the Winners of TVs The Amazing Race (Whiners). The contestants are facing these risky challenges gather and are experiencing these challenges together, making them stronger. While The Amazing Race takes people to exotic locations, 16 Pregnant is reality television revealing people in their day-to-day life. Mats hit show affects both the viewers and reality stars. 16 Pregnant focuses much more on the relationships between parent and child not only with the newborn, but also with the tens parent as well. The show follows the lives of pregnant teenagers and films the struggles with teen pregnancy. 6 Pregnant has shown positive correlations with one of the main issues in The United States, teen pregnancy. MET paired with The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to help reduce the rates of teen pregnancy. The campaign published an article revealing facts about teen pregnancy and noted that in 2006 when the rates spiked about 164 out of 1,000 teens became pregnant. The article confirms that MET is working with t he campaign to help viewers understand the fundamental problems of teen pregnancy. In 2009, the first read that [a]approximately 39 births and 72 pregnancies occur per 1,000 girls age 15-19 (Fast Facts). This evidence suggests that 16 Pregnant has led to a decrease in teen pregnancy. After viewing the negative effects of teen pregnancy on the show, teenagers are making better decisions when it comes to their sexual involvement. A research was done to help understand the effects of the program. The paper read: Teenagers are being positively reinforced by watching 16 and Pregnant. Through the use of ads during the show and through the struggles each teen mom encounters, MET is teaching the audience a very valuable lesson: that waiting to have sex and practicing safe sex are the best ways to avoid becoming pregnant as a teenager. Understanding 3) This article lays out partnership formed with MET and advertising nannies as an effort to reduce teen pregnancy. The shows sole purpose, according to MET, is to educate teens and encourage smart decisions within their relationships. 16 and Pregnant captures the building of relationships between not only the teenager and her child but also the teenager and her parent. By observing the behaviors presented on television, viewers are learning how to make smart decisions to help create healthy relationships. Even though many of the examples of behavior shown on television are negative, viewers can still learn by observing according to the theory presented by Tiffany Brewer. Her study on teenagers provides additional evidence that indicates the positive effect of the reality program. She surveyed a group of teenage viewers to bring to the light the lesson they are learning through watching 16 Pregnant each week, after she was done surveying, the most common response was people thought more about the consequences of their actions. The balancing of financial costs, schoolwork, social activities, and a child can be a hassle. The episodes display the legitimate challenges and how a teenager should approach handling the situation. The relationships grow and develop with onscreen inversion and while viewers watch the interactions they will grasp tips and ideas on how to reach out to communicate with their own family members. This exposure will open up conversation about sexual behaviors between parents and their children. It will provide a comforting stance for families to be more open with one another. By making a reality television show center on the issue of teen pregnancy, they are raising awareness in young people and influencing them to make intelligent decisions within their relationship. (Session) 16 Pregnant is not the only show that MET has produced to raise awareness for an issue. The series Catfish is another example off reality television show that affects the audience by opening their eyes to a controversy. Catfish is a television series on MET that is based off of the original documentary about a young man named Yanks Coalman who had a strange experience with online dating. He discovered that the person he had been talking to was actually an older woman faking her identity as a youthful, beautiful girl. Yanks created the series to help others in society who are dealing with similar situations. While some believe Catfish is only boosting the amount of fake online identities, the program similar to 16 Pregnant, addresses the issue and makes viewers aware of the stranger dangers lurking online. Providing knowledge of the mishaps can be used as a guide and relationships (Calendar). While many of societys immediate thoughts are that reality television shows have a negative effect on relationships, there is more evidence to support their broadcasting. Reality television has increasing become more popular within the past 10 years and it is important that society knows the effects of watching it. Reality television is benefiting real life relationships of stars and those who tune in to watch t every evening by providing with great experiences and both positive and negative examples of relationships.

Bruhathkayosaurus - Facts and Figures

Bruhathkayosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Bruhathkayosaurus (Greek for huge-bodied lizard); pronounced broo-HATH-kay-oh-SORE-us Habitat: Woodlands of India Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (70 million years ago) Size and Weight: Up to 150 feet long and 200 tons, if it really existed Diet: Plants Distinguishing Characteristics: Enormous size; long neck and tail About Bruhathkayosaurus Bruhathkayosaurus is one of those dinosaurs that comes with a lot of asterisks attached. When the remains of this animal were discovered in India, in the late 1980s, paleontologists thought they were dealing with an enormous theropod along the lines of the ten-ton Spinosaurus of northern Africa. On further examination, though, the discoverers of the type fossil speculated that Bruhathkayosaurus was actually a titanosaur, the huge, armored descendants of the sauropods that roamed every continent on earth during the Cretaceous period. The trouble is, though, that the pieces of Bruthathkayosaurus that have been identified so far dont convincingly add up to a complete titanosaur; its only classified as one because of its enormous size. For example, the supposed tibia (leg bone) of Bruhathkayosaurus was almost 30 percent bigger than that of the much-better-attested   Argentinosaurus, meaning that if it really was a titanosaur it would have been by far the biggest dinosaur of all timeas much as 150 feet long from head to tail and 200 tons. Theres a further complication, which is that the provenance of the type specimen of Bruhathkayosaurus is dubious at best. The team of researchers that unearthed this dinosaur left out some important details in their 1989 paper; for example, they included line drawings, but not actual photographs, of the recovered bones, and also didnt bother to point out any detailed diagnostic characteristics that would attest to Bruhathkayosaurus truly being a titanosaur. In fact, in the absence of hard evidence, some paleontologists believe that the alleged bones of Bruhathkayosaurus are actually pieces of petrified wood! For now, pending further fossil discoveries, Bruhathkayosaurus languishes in limbo, not quite a titanosaur and not quite the largest land-dwelling animal that ever lived. This isnt an unusual fate for recently discovered titanosaurs; pretty much the same can be said about Amphicoelias and Dreadnoughtus, two other violently disputed contenders for the title of Biggest Dinosaur Ever.

Personal Statement about international relations and politics

About international relations and politics - Personal Statement Example For this reason, I seek to undertake a pathway that despite being long enlightens me regarding the complex nature of human interactions and the associated issues. No action can be considered good if it fails to align with the benefits of the society as a whole. My choice of studying humanities along with social science is largely based on these beliefs and I hope to excel in my subjects due to my immense interest in the subjects. I intend to pursue a career in the international relations and politics at the University of Edinburgh, for which I intend to stay at the university for an extended period of time. My willingness to take on this course stems from my natural inclination towards the issues pertaining to human beings. I strongly believe that the pains and sufferings of humans can only be relieved by the actions of other humans. Those who are politically empowered to take actions are in a better position to serve humanity. Also, since the modern world is rapidly transforming into a global village; the actions and interactions of various countries directly or indirectly affect the lives of individuals on a global scale. This extreme interconnectedness and the consequences of this phenomenon are manifested in the lives of people in shorter periods of time; and this trend is increasingly becoming a norm. In the ‘jungle’ of globe, everyone is your friend and everyone is your enemy – the only thing that guides the behaviors of countries towards others is ‘interest’. Moral values are set aside in matters of international level and it is the mutual interest that guides and runs the international businesses. I strongly feel that an understanding of the relationships of different countries is essential to understand the expected and unexpected upcoming events. Knowledge about the international relationships of