A Bad Spell for a Worst Witch Essay

Mildred Hubble returns to Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches for her second year, determined to lose her embarrassing reputation as â€Å"the worst witch in the school†. After Maud Moonshine and Enid Nightshade arrive, the three bump into two first-years (one of whom reminds Mildred very strongly of someone, the other with ginger frizzy hair in bunches). The one who seems familiar bursts into tears and clings onto Mildred when she hears that a lot of the teachers (including Miss Hardbroom) are quite strict. Mildred also accidentally slips a made-up story about Miss Hardbroom turning a student into a frog when she was just two seconds late for a lesson. To the girl’s horror, they also learn that Miss Hardbroom will be replacing Miss Gimlett as their form-mistress for their second year. The next morning, a fire bell rings. Mildred scrambles into her clothes but notices outisde her window Miss Hardbroom standing in the playground surrounded by hazy purple smoke. Thinking she is in a state of shock, Mildred tries to douse her in freezing cold water but the bucket slips off her broomstick and lands with a clang on Miss Hardbroom’s head. See more:  Capital budgeting essay After witnessing the bucket incident between Mildred and Miss Hardbroom, Ethel Hallow confronts Mildred at lunchtime saying that the girl she told the frog story to was her younger sister, Sybil Hallow. After prodding at Mildred, Mildred loses her temper and insults Ethel’s family (â€Å"All you Hallows are weeds, weeds, weeds! â€Å"). After an unfortunate flying lesson, where Tabby makes another terrifying attempt to avoid sitting on the end of the broomstick, Miss Hardbroom sends Mildred to her room to calm down. When sitting in her bed, however, Mildred accidentally falls asleep and doesn’t hear Ethel creeping into her room. Mildred is awoken by her bedroom door shutting only to find that everything looks giant-sized, even Tabby. She peeks in the mirror only to find that somebody has turned her into a frog. Whe jumping onto her bed, the frog-Mildred notices a tatty handful of weeds on her pillow, no doubt left by Ethel as a reference to her family’s insult and why she turned her into the frog. Panicking, Mildred squeezes under the gap under her bedroom door and hops off to a potions lesson where everyone has noticed that she has disappeared. Miss Hardbroom, however, discovers her and puts her in a jar. During the potions lesson, Mildred manages to escape from the jar and hops over to Ethel’s desk where she drinks an invisibility potion that turns her invisible. Taking advantage of her invisibility, the frog-Mildred hops out of the academy and lands in the lilypond on the castle grounds. In the lilypond, Mildred meets another frog who also was a human once called Algernon Rowan-Webb. Algernon reveals that he was turned into a frog by one of his fellow magicians after the two had an argument. Algernon also reveals that the one thing he is craving is some toats and crumpets with butter. Promising to come back for him, Mildred hops back up to the academy where Maud and Enid instantly recognise her. They take her to Ethel where she reluctantly turns her back into a human. Miss Hardbroom comes by and Ethel tells her that she caught Maud, Enid, and Mildred sneaking around the school. Miss Hardbroom is just about to give Mildred a punishment, when she notices that Mildred’s feet are still invisible. Mildred tells Miss Hardbroom what really happened. Miss Hardbroom tells Mildred and Ethel to go to her office the next day. In the morning, Mildred and Ethel have a brief squabble about who’s fault it was until Miss Hardbroom turns up. After the full story is explained, Miss Hardbroom bans both of them from attending the Halloween ceremonies (which was the only chance Mildred would have to come into contact with a magician who could turn Algernon back into a human). With no other options, Mildred feels she has no choice but to kidnap somebody who is going to the Halloween festival. She tricks a third-year witch, Griselda Blackwood, into looking under her bed for an imaginary beetle where Mildred ties her up and gags her and takes her cat. Later, Ethel discovers Griselda being held captive in Mildred’s room and the two fly off to the festival to turn Mildred in. Mildred gives herself away and barges up to Mr. Hellibore where she gives him the box that contains Algernon. Mr. Hellibore, who was one of Algernon’s fellow magicians at the time of his transformation, turns him back to his human form. As a last request from Mildred, Mr. Hellibore magic’s up a pot of tea along with some toast and crumpets with butter. The three head off to enjoy the supper.

Human Rights in North Korea

DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EXTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT POLICY BRIEFING Human rights in North Korea Abstract The human rights record in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) has been widely condemned by the international community, including by the EU and the European Parliament. The ascension of the latest ruler of the Kim dynasty, Kim Jong-un, in December 2011 has not brought tangible change. Since the country is practically closed to foreigners, the human rights situation can only be evaluated based on the testimonies of refugees and defectors.Their reports consistently reveal blatant and unrepentant violations of human rights, which aim to elicit the total submission of the country's citizens to the regime and its ideology. While the majority of North Koreans suffer from permanent hunger, those who try to leave the country face harsh punishment upon repatriation. Citizens suspected of being disloyal to the regime and their families are placed, witho ut trial, in prison camps with abhorrent conditions. North Korea is among the countries carrying out the highest numbers of executions in the world.FOR EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INTERNAL USE ONLY DG EXPO/B/PolDep/Note/2012_265 PE 491. 441 September 2012 EN Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies This Policy Briefing was requested by the European Parliament's delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand. AUTHOR: Anete BANDONE Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union Policy Department WIB 06 M 85 rue Wiertz 60 B-1047 Brussels Feedback to anete. [email  protected] europa. eu is welcome. Editorial Assistant: Pia VANNESTE LINGUISTIC VERSION: Original: ENABOUT THE PUBLISHER: Manuscript completed on 17 September 2012.  © European Union, 2012 Printed inBelgium This Policy Briefing is available on the intranet site of the Directorate-General for External Policies, in the Regions and countries or Policy Areas section. To obtain paper copies, please send a request by e-mail to: [email  protected] europa. eu. DISCLAIMER: Any opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament.Reproduction and translation, except for commercial purposes, are authorised, provided the source is acknowledged and provided the publisher is given prior notice and supplied with a copy of the publication. 2 Human rights in North Korea TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Overview Human rights violations International treaties Reactions of the international community Annexes 4 5 10 10 14 3 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 1. Overview The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is an authoritarian state that emerged after the Second World War and has been ruled by the Kim dynasty ever since.The latest national elections, held in March 2009, were neither free nor fair. North Korea's human rights record is based principally on the testimonies of refugees and defectors. North Korea’s human rights situation is difficult to assess: the access of foreigners to the country is restricted and those who do enter are under close surveillance. North Koreans are not allowed to leave the country, which means that reports are mainly based on the contributions of refugees and defectors.Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) report that North Korea commits blatant human rights violations: arbitrary and indefinite imprisonment, political prison camps, torture, public executions, suppression of workers’ rights, and prohibitions on freedoms of expression, media, movement, association and religion 1 . North Korea's human rights violations have been widely condemned, including by the United Nations General Assembly and Human Rights Council, which have adopted several resolutions.Nevertheless, the North Korean government insists that there are no human rights issues in the country, arguing that its system has bee n chosen by the people: ‘The words â€Å"human rights† sound absolutely nonsensical in the DPRK where the dignity and independent rights of the working masses are fully guaranteed legally and institutionally. ‘ 2 No tangible changes have been seen since Kim Jongun assumed power in December 2011. The ascension of Kim Jong-un after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in December 2012 has hardly changed the grim situation, although Kim Jong-un has spoken about improving people's lives.As recently as December 2011 DPRK authorities issued a statement indicating they would ‘annihilate' up to three generations of a family if a family member fled the country during the 100-day period of mourning following the death of Kim Jong-il Border controls were also intensified 3 . 1 2 US State Department Korean Central News Agency 2012 3 ICNK, Kim Jong Un Tightens Grip along Border , 16 January 2012 4 Human rights in North Korea 2. Human rights violations 2. 1. ExecutionsNort h Korea's criminal code foresees the death penalty for more than 20 crimes, including smuggling and dealing narcotics, stealing state property and counterfeiting currency. The code also allows for arbitrary decisions by the authorities, who can determine ‘the gravest cases' or ‘extremely serious cases' 4 . In 2011 North Korea executed 30 or more people, placing the country among the ranks of those carrying out the greatest number of executions in the world, according to Amnesty International 5 . 2. 2. Torture and ill-treatmentPersons who are accused and arrested are often subjected to torture to enforce obedience and obtain bribes or information, despite the fact that North Korea's criminal code prohibits torture or inhuman treatment. According to Human Rights Watch, common forms of torture include sleep deprivation, beatings with iron rods or sticks, kicking and slapping, and enforced sitting or standing for hours. A study conducted in 2010 found that 60 % of previously imprisoned refugee respondents had witnessed a death due to beating or torture 6 . . 3. Some 200 000 people live in prison camps; incarcerated with their families and without trial. Prison camps According to Amnesty International, around 200 000 prisoners (about 0. 85 % of the population) are held in six large political prison camps (gwalliso). People who are suspected of not being loyal to the regime are sent to these camps without a trial, often with three generations of their family — spouses, children and parents — and mostly without any hope of release.The prisoners may have committed ‘crimes' such as not dusting a portrait of the leader or being Christian 7 . North Korea has never recognised 4 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in The Democratic People's Republic of Korea 5 Amnesty International, Death Sentences and Executions 2011 6 Human Rights Watch (HRW) World Report 2012 7 The Economist, The gulag behind the goose-steps, 21 April 2012 8 The Situation of Detainees in Gulag System 5 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies that these camps exist.Conditions in the camps approach those of slavery, with starvation and no medical treatment. Prisoners, including children, are forced to work in conditions approaching slavery, e. g. , mining, logging and farming, seven days a week for twelve hours or more per day. They are frequently subjected to torture and kept on the verge of starvation. A defector has described the daily ration as approximately twenty grains of corn per prisoner. Convicts search through cow dung for undigested grain. No medical treatment is provided in the camp.Pregnant women are subjected to forced abortions or forced to give up their babies upon delivery to be murdered or abandoned. 8 . In 2011, Amnesty International said it believed North Korea's prison camps were expanding. The organisation based its findings on satellite pictures 9 ; prison camps can be seen on Google Earth. 2. 4. Food shortages North Korea has been dependent on food aid since famine in the mid1990s. In March 2011, the UN estimated that more than six million vulnerable persons in North Korea needed immediate international food aid 10 .With food shortages reaching more than one million tonnes, the World Food Programme called it the worst famine in a decade. Among the causes are floods, an extremely harsh winter; discriminatory food policies that favour the elite, and the economic mismanagement of a monetary devaluation scheme in November 2009 that wiped out many peoples’ savings. In his February 2012 report, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Marzuki Darusman called on the DPRK government to allocate more resources to agriculture than to its military sector 11 .At the same time, he emphasised that food ‘should never ne used as an instrument of political and economic pressure' (referring to a 1999 General Comment on the right to food by the UN Committee on E conomic, Social and Cultural Rights) 12 . Nevertheless, the U. S. suspended its plans for food aid to North Korea after the announcement of a new rocket launch in March. In June 2012, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Coordinator in Pyongyang, Jerome Sauvage, reported that one in two children in North Korea is stunted due to malnourishment 13 .The year 2013 could be particularly difficult for North Koreans as the 9 Amnesty International, Amnesty International Report Exposes North Korean Gulags, June 2011 10 HRW World Report 2012 11 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 12 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 13 Reuters, U. N. optimistic on U. S. aid for North Korea, food still a problem, June 2012 6 Human rights in North Korea country may face a new famine due to losses of up to 13 % of its grain harvest this year, according to a recent report by a South Korean official 14 .Losses result from a drought that followed widespread flooding this summer and that ob liged the country to request immediate food assistance. The regime has announced that it has set a goal for 2012 — the centenary of the birth of Kim Il Sung, the first leader of the DPRK — to develop its economy, improve its people's lives and attract foreign investment 15 . In August 2012, the uncle of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, Jang songthaek, met China's President Hu Jintao to explore ways to revive North Korea's decimated economy and advance beyond the Marxist economic model 16 .There are also reports of plans for financial reform 17 . 2. 5. Media and internet Kim Jong-II’s death clearly demonstrated how tight the government's grip remains on the media and information: the news was broadcast on North Korean state television only two days later 18 . All sources of media, such as radio and television, are strictly controlled by the government and heavily censored. The contents of national media almost entirely consist of political propaganda and the pro motion of the leaders' personality cults. Internet use is limited to the political elite.Mobile phone access is limited to an internal network (one million users or 4 % of the inhabitants), and international calls can only be made by foreigners and the political elite 19 . Fines for making an international call can be as high as KPW 1 million (about USD 1 100), coupled with one week of detention 20 . North Korea is ranked second-to-last out of 179 countries in the World Press Freedom Index, before Eritrea 21 . 2. 6. Freedom of expression The government regularly evaluates its citizens' loyalty to the regime with the help of a large network of informants.Persons considered subversive are punished; disloyal inhabitants of Pyongyang are expulsed from the capital 22 . 14 15 Reuters, Destitute North Korea's grain harvest seen falling sharply, 4 September 2012 CIA World Fact Book 16 Reuters, China's Hu gives show of support for North Korea, 17 August 2012 17 ICNK, The Signs of Financial R eform in North Korea, 28 August 2012 18 Reporters Without Borders: North Korea 19 US State Department 20 Reporters Without Borders: North Korea 21 Reporters Without Borders: World Press Freedom Index 22 HRW World Report 2012 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 2. 7. Freedom of assembly and association The country's 1992 constitution includes provisions for freedom of assembly and association, although this is not respected in practice. All organisations are created by the government 23 . 2. 8. Freedom of religion The DPRK is officially an atheist state. Autonomous religious activities are almost non existent, although the government sponsors some religious groups to create the illusion of religious freedom 24 .The constitution foresees freedom of religion, while specifying that ‘no one may use religion as a means by which to drag in foreign powers or to destroy the state or social order† 25 . In 2009, the South Korean Investigative Commission on Crime Against Humanity reported on the public execution of a Christian woman accused of distributing the Bible. The Bible is banned in the North 26 . 2. 9. Freedom of movement: refugees Leaving the country without state permission is a crime in North Korea.Those who leave — most often to go to China — face harsh punishment if repatriated. Moreover, as mentioned above, DPRK authorities issued a statement in December 2011 indicating that they would ‘annihilate' up to three generations of a family if a family member fled the country during the 100-day period of mourning for the death of Kim Jong-il 27 . Border controls were also intensified last year 28 . Over the years, up to 400 000 North Koreans have fled the country, and many are living in neighbouring China as illegal immigrants.They are routinely repatriated, despite China's obligation to offer protection to refugees under international law, the Refugee Convention of 1951 and the Convention's 1967 Protocol, to which China is a state party 29 . In March 2012, at least 41 North Korean refugees were forcibly repatriated by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the DPRK 30 . In June four of them were executed 31 . Up to 400 000 North Koreans have escaped. Those who are repatriated face harsh punishment. 23 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 24 25 CIA World Fact BookMinority Rights Group International: North Korea Overview 26 BBC, North Korea ‘executes Christians' , July 2009 27 European Parliament Resolution, 25 May 2012 28 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 29 HRW World Report 2012 30 UN Human Rights Council 31 ICNK, North Korea executes 4 defectors sent back from China 8 Human rights in North Korea 2. 10. Labour rights North Korea is one of the few countries that have not joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ruling Korean Workers’ Party controls the only authorised trade union organisation, the Ge neral Federation of Trade Unions of Korea 32 . 2. 11. Minority rightsThere is no specific provision regarding the protection of minorities in North Korean legislation. North Korea is one of the world's most homogeneous countries in linguistic and ethnic terms: almost all 23 million inhabitants are ethnic Koreans whose ancestors have been living there for thousands of years. There is only one, very small Chinese minority of around 50 000. 33 2. 12. Rights of disabled people Although North Korea participated in the 2012 Paralympics in London, there have been reports in the past of disabled newborns being killed and of disabled people being sent to special camps and banned from the capital 34 .A 2003 law stipulates equal access for disabled persons to public services but has not been implemented. 35 2. 13. Abductions In the past, the DPRK has been involved in the abduction of foreign citizens, mainly South Korean and Japanese individuals. More than 500 persons have reportedly been kidn apped. However, no progress has been made with investigations into such abductions or the release of abductees since 2002, when two Japanese nationals were returned to Japan 36 . The DPRK had promised to reopen the investigation into the cases of suspected abductions of Japanese nationals in 2008 37 . . 14. Rule of law And independent judiciary and individual rights do not exist in North Korea, although, according to the country's constitution, courts are independent 32 33 HRW Report 2012 Minority Rights Group International: North Korea Overview 34 ICNK, Disability, the Paralympics, and Ji Seong Ho, 30 August 2012 35 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 36 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 37 US State Department 2011 Human Rights Reports: Democratic People's Republic of Korea 9Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies and judicial proceedings must strictly follow the law. 3. International treaties North Korea is party to four international human rights treaties: ? ? ? ? the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). 4. Reactions of the international community 4. 1. UNIn March 2012 a UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution expressing concerns about the ‘ grave, widespread and systematic human rights abuses human rights violations' in North Korea. The resolution deplored the refusal of the government to ‘allow [the Special Rapporteur on human rights] access to the country† 38 . For the first time, North Korea’s allies in the Council (including China and Russia) did not call for a vote, but instead allowed the resolution to pass by consensus 39 . This sort of resolution has, in the past, had little impact on North Korea.When a previou s resolution on human rights condemned the situation in the North, the country's state news agency, the Korean Central News Agency, ran the following response: As already reported, the ‘resolution on human rights' against the DPRK was railroaded through the 60th UN General Assembly due to the pressure and the lobbying operation of the U. S. , Britain, Japan and other hostile forces. The â€Å"resolution† is peppered with lies and fabrications defaming the advantageous Korean-style socialist system centred on the popular masses.That was why it failed to get the approval of many member nations at the general assembly as it was a controversial one which clearly indicated the politicization of the human rights issue, selectivity and double standards 40 . In March 2012, a UN resolution about human rights in North Korea was passed by consensus. 38 39 Report of the Human Rights Council on its nineteenth session, unedited version HRW, UN Human Rights Council: North Korea Condem nation Goes Unopposed , 23 March 2012 40 Korean Central News Agency 2005 10 Human rights in North KoreaDespite the efforts of the UN the Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur, the DPRK ‘continues to be late in reporting to the treaty bodies or uncooperative with the special procedures' 41 . There have, however, been some signs of cooperation with other UN bodies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Health Organisation and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In October 2011, the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator visited the DPRK to assess the humanitarian situation 42 .In July 2012, a UN mission was granted access to the country to evaluate the damage caused by the floods. 43 In 2013, Special Rapporteur Darusman, is due to report to the Human Rights Council. North Korea will prepare its next periodic review for the same time 44 . There are small signs that the country is beginning to cooperate with some UN bodies. 4. 2. ICNK The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK), established in September 2011, is the first international coalition that brings together human rights organisations from around the world 45 .Some 40 organisations have joined the coalition. On April 2012 the ICNK submitted a petition to the special procedures of the United Nation Human Rights Council calling for the UN to help shut down North Korea’s vast gulag system. 46 Delegates of the ICNK met Members of the European Parliament and EU officials in Brussels on 7 June 2012 to persuade them to support the establishment of a UN commission of inquiry into human rights abuses in North Korea. 4. 3. Six-party talksThe ‘six-party talks', which include China, the United States, North and South Korea, Japan and Russia, are aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear program through a negotiating process. Although human rights are not one of the topics of discussion for the talks, the Special Rapporteur believes that progress in these negotiations will assist discussions on other issues, such as the human rights situation 47 . Six-party negotiations have not taken place since December 2008. 41 42Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 43 UN to assess North Korea floods as more rain falls 44 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 45 The International Coalition to Stop Crimes against Humanity in North Korea (ICNK) 46 ICNK press relase, 3 April 2012 47 Report of the Special Rapporteur 2012 11 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 4. 4. The EU and its Member States engage in regular political dialogue with North Korea, including through the UN. European Union The EU conducts regular political dialogues with the DPRK.The European Union established diplomatic relations with the DPRK in May 2001, and the majority of EU Member States have diplomatic relations with the DPRK. These contacts provide an opp ortunity to discuss human rights. The EU has also regularly raised the issue of the North Korean human rights situation in discussions at UN bodies. Since 1995, the EU has been involved in various assistance programmes and cooperation activities with the DPRK. Since then, over EUR 366 million in aid has been provided in the form of food aid, medical, water and sanitation assistance and agricultural support 48 .The EU supports, however, the Special Rapporteur's ‘call to rectify flaws in production, distribution and trading systems and to stop the misallocation of resources for military purposes' 49 . A Country Strategy Paper was adopted in March 2002, but its implementation has been suspended. There are currently no plans for a new Country Strategy Paper or for development cooperation, although this remains open for the future 50 . As part of the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur, the EU has encouraged ‘the DPRK’s new eadership to use its next univer sal periodic review in 2014 as an opportunity to enhance its dialogue with the international community and to provide undisclosed information of its criminal code', including subsequent revisions and addendums 51 . The EU is also involved in a number of assistance programmes. EEAS: North Korea EEAS, HRC19 – Interactive dialogues on Syria, Iran, Burma/Myanmar, North Korea , 12 March 2012 50 EEAS: North Korea 51 EEAS, HRC19 – Interactive dialogues on Syria, Iran, Burma/Myanmar, North Korea 49 48 12 Human rights in North Korea 4. . 1 European Parliament The European Parliament has adopted several resolutions on North Korea, the latest in May 2012 concerning the forced repatriation of North Korean refugees in China 52 . In July 2010, the Parliament called on the EU ‘to appoint an EU special representative on the DPRK to ensure persistent attention and coordination' 53 . Following the death of Kim Jong-il, Parliament's former President Jerzy Buzek issued a statement c alling on the North Korean authorities ‘to make concrete and tangible steps towards improving human rights conditions'.He called ‘on the authorities to allow inspection of all types of detention facilities by independent international experts and to allow UN Special Rapporteurs to visit the country'. He also urged the country ‘to engage constructively in human rights dialogues with the EU' 54 . A public hearing organised by the Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights took place in May 2012 with the participation of a former prisoner, the brother of a Japanese abductee and the US Special Envoy Robert King. 52European Parliament resolution of 24 May 2012 on the situation of North Korean refugees 53 European Parliament resolution of 8 July 2010 on North Korea 54 Buzek on the death of Kim Jong-il, 19 December 2011 13 Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies 5. Annexes Figure 1: Map of North Korea Source: United Nations Table 1: Data Basic informat ion on North Korea Population Capital Life expectancy 24 589 122 (July 2012 est. ) Pyongyang 66 years for men, 72 years for women (UN) 14

Consumer Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Consumer Culture - Essay Example This is seen through the way they dress, their behavior, voice, hairstyle, or body characteristics (Edwards & Alexander, 2008). An individual’s identity should not be considered from ones behavior but from the way, others react towards you and the ability to keep on going narrative. This essay will focus on how self-identity has contributed to identity construction in the modern consumer society, and how gender identity is constructed, negotiated and presented within a market place. There will be a discussion on issues of masculinity and how they have contributed to gender identity. The existence of a body as a conduit for intentionality and the role of body image body image self-identity. Body The modern consumer society, which is marked with high reflectivity, is conscious of the heightened need for the construction of individual identity. In the modern consumer, society individuals have learnt how to construct, negotiate and represent their gender identity in a market place (Edwards & Alexander, 2008). The centrality in the reflexivity within the modern consumer society has resulted to individuals’ ability to confront and conceptualize their identities. In their quest for self-identity, they always want to know how they should act, what they should be, and what they need to do regarding their gender roles. These questions about what an individual should do and how to behave are always answered from the day-to-day social interaction. Self-identity is not made up of set characteristics but understanding of self-identity is through reflexivity, which creates an understanding of a person’s biography hence representing him as a social actor who has a consistent sense within self (Edwards & Alexander, 2008). This is evident from the way a person interacts with people and the way in which he represents himself in a social setting for example in a market place. Existence of a body as conduit of intentionality The behavioral theorists have publis hed a lot of work that theorizes the relationship between self and the body. Together with other phenomenologist’s course satire and Merleau Ponty recognizes that, a person’s presence in the world means that there is existence of a body, which is a material thing. For the body to exist the process should be dynamic. Existence means that you should always be in action. A person attains correctness and the fullness of existence if he is always active (Edwards & Alexander, 2008). To exist means to perform, Heidegger and Merleau in their ideas about the body as a conduit for intentionality have reversed Descartes’ claims that the certainty of existence is through relocating the locus from† I think† to â€Å"I can†. Death therefore is a transformation from† I can â€Å"to â€Å"I can no longer do†. This issue of death therefore says that there is no activity because there is no life. The account of bodily existence that was highly art iculated in the theories of feminism meant that although there was that essence of the body, the point of view lived in a different manner for both men and women. There was an assertion that there is lack of significance in the biological facts that bring the difference between men and women (Edwards & Alexander, 2008). The image of the body The image of the body is understood with others depending on the image that they create about a person and this plays a great role in the modern consumer society. Several definitions define the body image. It is

Analysis of Rembrandt van Rijn's Paintings Essay

Analysis of Rembrandt van Rijn's Paintings - Essay Example The essay "Analysis of Rembrandt van Rijn's Paintings" analyzes two paintings, The Descent from the Cross and Philosopher in Meditation, both found in the art museum of The University of Arizona. The Descent from the Cross refers to a scene from the Gospels reports of Joseph and Nicodemus lowering Christ from the cross following his crucifixion. Artists also refer to it as The Deposition of Christ. Other names not stated in the Gospels who were included in illustrations of this art consist of St. John who is pictured supporting a dimming Mary Magdalene. The Gospels reveal an indeterminate number of women as witnessing the crucifixion. It also included the Three Marys: the Virgin Mary, Mary Salome and also Mary Magdalene who witnessed the burial. These and many other women and unidentified male assistant are shown in the painting. Even in early illustrations the facts and pretense of the work of art and the pose of Christ’s body are different. The scene was incorporated in medi eval cycles of Passion or the Life of Christ, from the crucifixion to the burial of Christ. The weeping of Christ and viewing the body of Christ supported by Mary might intervene between those two. This is widespread in the people’s view, mainly in sculpture. The viewing Christ’s body being moved to his tomb, anointing of Christ and showing the body laid flat on the top of the tomb is another picture that might be thought of in the painting. This is vital in the Orthodox art, where it is revealed on the Epitaph. (Rijn 7). With the resurgence, the painting became accepted for altarpieces, partially because of the challenge of the art work and the fitness of its vertical shape. The Mannerist edition of Russo Florentine is viewed as his most significant painting, and Pontormo’s altarpiece is his most determined painting. This topic of crucifixion was painted many times by both Rembrandt and Rubens. Rembrandt also liked the paintings of Rubens (Rijn 7). Rembrandt ad apted the compositional format for The Descent from the Cross from Ruben’s painting. Rembrandt though sets the theme back in time. The posture of the body Christ is also copied directly from Ruben’s work. His description of the limp and the lifeless Christ discloses a sense of brutality and sorrow which is missing in Rubens painting. Rembrandt used himself as a representation for the boy on the ladder who clings to Christ’s arm (Rijn 7). This signified his emotional connection to the painting and his religious passion. This is the only painting by Rembrandt bearing the dedication of an art dealer and modern publisher, Hedrick Van. Rembrandt’s studio at that time was situated in the publisher's house, and it was there that he met Hedrick Van’s cousin Saki. Rembrandt married Saki in 1634. The Descent from the Cross and the Pendant Christ before Pilate were both published by Cum Privileges. They were approved by the States General and are alike to the recent copyrights (Rijn 7). Philosopher in Meditation Philosopher in Me

Abkhazia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Abkhazia - Essay Example As a means of seeking to define and understand the dynamics of Abkhazia to a more complete degree, this brief analysis will be concentric upon discussing the history of Abkhazia, analyzing whether or not it has any claim to state, or a state within a state for that matter, as well as the particular situation that exists within Abkhazia within the present time. Like so many of the other ethnic groups within the region of the South Caucuses, the ethnic definition of the â€Å"state of Abkhazia† quite literally has a direct connotation to the land of the â€Å"Land of the Apsians†; the racial and ethnic identifier that the individuals who reside within the bounds of Abkhazia utilize to denote themselves as compared to the Ossetians to the east, Russians to the north and the Georgians and Armenians to the South (Harzl, 2011). Within such an ethnic interpretation of what defines Abkhazia, the reader can quickly come to understand how the conflict which played out in 2008 was ultimately fomented and furthered.

Critique of a research article (See below for article )) Essay

Critique of a research article (See below for article )) - Essay Example rect relation to the research gap outline in the above introductory paragraph, Sawyer and Penman (2007) address the impact of computer use on nursing practitioners. More specifically, they address the physical consequences of usage and whether or not nurses receive the required ergonomics training and implement it in their practice. This study will critique offer a comprehensive critique of Sawey and Penman’s (2007) article. The critique will commence with an overview of Sawyer and Penman’s (2007) article. Within the context of this overview, the rationale for the article will be explicated, a brief review of its selected methodology presented and, importantly, the importance of the article and its relevance to contemporary nursing practices will be fully articulated. Computers are becoming increasingly prevalent in the healthcare setting, and their potential applications and value are extensive. Computers store and process information that can be interconnected to various sources to transfer information from one source to another within the hospital and outside to the world at large. Within the field of nursing, computers can be used by nurses for the purposes of education and seeking information, facilitating communication, and patient documentation. While much of the literature focuses on factors contributing to computer utilization, few studies describe the actual computer utilization by nurses. The available literature identifies uses and benefits of computer access that are often anecdotal and assumptive. Computer technology is rapidly evolving, and research is not keeping up with examining and documenting its impact on the profession of nursing. In a profession focused on providing evidence based practice, current and relevant evidence is needed regarding, not just the actual application of computers by nurses, but the health-related impact of usage on nurses. The implication here is that the rationale for this article stems from the role which

Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Response - Assignment Example I have always had a desire to be a director someday and I intend to work towards that goal. The airline industry is a great industry to enter as an employee due to the expected expansion of air travel in the next of couple of decades. The airline industry is forecasted to grow at a rate of 3.6% annually until 2030 (Faa). If your aspirations are to become an administrator of a major airline you must keep an open mind to working at an international location. Hopefully from five years from now I will be working at a well known accounting firm if not earlier. Later I will like to go for my master degree because that what most careers are looking for. If I cant find a good job with my degree in New York, then I will move somewhere else as possible. The place Im doing my intern will place me in a good position for helping them out or Im wondering being at Macys for six years with my bachelors degree I hope they put me in corporate in Ohio. Accounting is a great career choice. When you open any newspaper and read the classified ads you will always find work in accounting. If you want to reach the upper managerial accounting positions a master’s degree will help you a lot towards that goal. I also recommend that you pursue a professional certification in accounting such as a CPA or CMA. This course has really helped me out a lot and I really enjoyed reading other classmates thoughts about the topics. In 5 years from now I hope to have landed a job that I have been looking for and been preparing for, and in ten years from now, hopefully have moved up in that company. I don’t plan on returning for grad school with all of this knowledge I have obtained, I hope that if I do decide to change career paths, I am prepared for the worst and best. I don’t really want to change my career path, because I have always had a passion for fashion and I plan to succeed in the fashion