Thursday, March 19, 2020

Crash from a Psychological Perspective Essay Example

Crash from a Psychological Perspective Essay Example Crash from a Psychological Perspective Paper Crash from a Psychological Perspective Paper Essay Topic: Film In the film Crash we are given a picture of all different kinds of social and multicultural differences, giving us an eye opening example of how these conducts and racisms affect our society. Two of the most obvious biases within the film are prejudice and stereotyping. These behaviors are viewed as thoughts and feelings that almost everyone has felt at some point. In the first scene we meet a Muslim man, attempting to buy a gun. The store owner is a Caucasian male that has a negative attitude towards the customer because of his Muslim background. The owners stereotypical feelings set off negative attitudes because of the bad feelings he had about the Muslim race; being immediately associated with the Al Qaeda terrorist group of 9/11. The negative attitude and hostility observed in this particular scene, is an example of prejudice. Although it has always existed in humanity, most would assume it would have fizzled out by the 21st century because we are now better educated and informed in understanding that one groups actions should not be stereotyped to the entire race. Unfortunately in this film, it does the complete opposite and shows our stereotyping by appearance attitude. Crash was made to intentionally show biased prejudices against minorities. Latinos are shown to be gang bangers; for example the depiction of Daniel the locksmith (Michael Pena); the wife of the D. A Jean Cabot (Sandra Bullock) insists on having the locks changed when Daniel leaves as she believes he is a (gang banger, with prison tattoos). Blacks either become gun-toting criminals as Anthony (Chris Ludacris Bridges) and his side- kick Peter Waters (Larenz Tate) are depicted as or are righteous upper class characters such as Cameron (Terrance Howard. Asians become greedy smugglers, and whites oversee this chaos with arrogance and bigotry. This is shown in the depiction of the two white police officers, Officer John Ryan (Matt Dillon) and Officer Tom Hansen (Ryan Phillippe). A more current representation is shown in the character of Farhad (Shaun Toub); Middle Easterners are depicted as stubborn, confused convenience store owners. Toubs character may reflect the current Middle Eastern stereotype caused by the aftermath of 9/11. This current representation is revealed when we see Farhad shoot a gun at a small child, many other guns are raised by characters of ethnic origin, but Farhad who is mistaken for being Iraqi (when he is actually Persian) is the only character to attempt murder. The only character that I believe shows us a true alternative to race negativity is the character of Daniel (Michael Pena). Daniel is mistaken to be a gang member because of his appearance (having a shaved head and prison tattoos) but he the movie then shows him in a more positive light as a father who is working hard to provide and protect his wife and young daughter. The alternative stereotype of an African American is offered in Crash through the characters of Christine and Cameron. Educated, successful and well off African American citizens, however after an unwarranted police stop, Christine is enraged by her husbands refusal to intervene when white cop Ryan takes frisking too far. She criticizes him for what she sees as a cowardly, he insists he acted the only way he could, that when a white man has power there is no way to win, so you do what you can to survive. This is a perfect example of the White Privilege that weve discussed in class. This exploitation of African Americans at the hand of white people would imply that racism is mostly institutional; however the thought behind the movie suggests that discrimination and racist attitudes are down to the people who enable it; for example Officer Ryan verbally abuses Shaniqua (Loretta Devine); a black case manager at an insurance company. She takes Ryans racism with dignity as he unloads his frustration with the insurance companys rules about his fathers care onto her. She seems to be a more reasonable character in the film. However this is short lived, in a key point at the end of the film. Shaniqua has a car crash were an Asian woman rear-ends Shaniquas car. She then emerges from her car shouting dont talk to me unless you speak American. The LAPD is represented by two characters and from two different perspectives. One perspective is from that of Officer Ryan. In contrast to his previous wrong doings, Ryan finds himself at the scene of a car crash where Christine the woman who he previously sexually attacked is in a life threatening situation. Ryan now challenges his previous stereotype and puts his own life in danger to rescue Christine, even after she hysterically rejects his help. Hanson in contrast to Ryan is compassionate and idealistic. Hanson tries to prevent the incident between Officer Ryan and Christine and throughout the film he tries to uphold his morals, he is the character who is most committed to racial justice but unfortunately at the end of the movie Hansons fear defeats justice and he shoots an innocent African American man. Officer Hanson later realizes that he holds a deep-rooted psychological racism within his consciousness; I believe Hanson is a good example of how many of us judge by appearances. As far as personal experience, living in Milwaukee, as a non-African American working at a runaway shelter for 75% African American teens makes it easier to have an insight into all kinds of prejudice and stereotypes within the African American society. After learning about this behavior and experiencing how segregation can really feel for some, its hard to not feel negatively judged by others when you dont belong to the majority group. Ive also realized my own negative biases and stereotypes when I am part of the majority. Unfortunately, prejudice is not just an attitude that internal; it also impacts behavior. When our attitudes show negativity because of differences within people whether its skin color or culture; the result produced is usually discrimination and the social inequality caused by it. Therefore, we in our efforts to reduce prejudice need to take the social context into consideration when focusing on individuals attitudes. The movie Crash illustrates the different points of view of people in our society; it gives us insights into the stereotypes we have developed within our society and around the world. It helps us to understand how such a small stereotype and negative attitude can really affect someone in several diverse ways. We need to learn to control prejudice and the stereotypes we hold against other groups, since these are our own attitudes and feelings that are learned and not innate we can teach ourselves to get rid of these negatives behaviors by not being judgmental and not having negative biases towards others. The key to changing stereotypes and prejudice is the responsibility of us as individuals. Each of us needs to take a better look at the assumptions that we make about other people and ask ourselves where those assumptions come from. Are they based on facts or personal experiences with others? Are your assumptions formed by things you have heard from others? Learned from the TV or media? Learned in school or from parents? Is it likely that some of your negative images are wrong; at least for some people? More often than not, the answer to that last question is likely to be yes. Most groups have moderates and extremists, trying to get to know people as individuals instead of generalizing the whole group will trim down on the stereotypes you hold against others, and it is also likely to reduce the stereotypes others hold of us. On a day-to-day basis we will be faced with reactions; it is how we interpret the situation and our actions in response to those reactions that will shadow our perception of daily life.

Monday, March 2, 2020

The Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan, 1923

The Great Kanto Earthquake in Japan, 1923 The Great Kanto Earthquake, also sometimes called the Great Tokyo Earthquake, rocked Japan on September 1, 1923.  Actually, the city of Yokohama was hit even worse than Tokyo was, although both were devastated.  It was the deadliest earthquake in Japanese history. The quakes magnitude is estimated at 7.9 to 8.2 on the Richter scale, and its epicenter was in the shallow waters of Sagami Bay, about 25 miles south of Tokyo.  The offshore earthquake triggered a tsunami in the bay, which struck the island of O-shima at a height of 12 meters (39 feet), and hit the Izu and Boso Peninsulas with 6 meter (20 foot) waves.  Japans ancient capital at Kamakura, almost 40 miles from the epicenter, was inundated by a 6-meter wave that killed 300 people, and its 84-ton Great Buddha was shifted nearly a meter.  The north shore of Sagami Bay rose permanently by almost two meters (six feet), and parts of the Boso Peninsula moved laterally 4 1/2 meters or 15 feet. The Effects of the Earthquake The total death toll from the disaster is estimated at about 142,800.  The quake struck at 11:58 am, so many people were cooking lunch.  In the wood-built cities of Tokyo and Yokohama, upended cooking fires and broken gas mains set off firestorms that raced through homes and offices.  Fire and tremors together claimed 90 percent of the homes in Yokohama and left 60% of Tokyos people homeless.  The Taisho Emperor and Empress Teimei were on holiday in the mountains, and so escaped the disaster. Most horrifying of the immediate results was the fate of 38,000 to 44,000 working class Tokyo residents who fled to the open ground of the Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho, once called the Army Clothing Depot.  Flames surrounded them, and at about 4:00 in the afternoon, a fire tornado some 300 feet tall roared through the area.  Only 300 of the people gathered there survived. Henry W. Kinney, an editor for Trans-Pacific Magazine who worked out of Tokyo, was in Yokohama when the disaster struck.  He wrote, Yokohama, the city of almost half a million souls, had become a vast plain of fire, or red, devouring sheets of flame which played and flickered.  Here and there a remnant of a building, a few shattered walls, stood up like rocks above the expanse of flame, unrecognizable...  The city was gone. The Great Kanto Earthquake sparked another horrifying result, as well.  In the hours and days following, nationalist and racist rhetoric took hold across Japan.  Stunned survivors of the earthquake, tsunami, and firestorm looked for an explanation, looked for a scapegoat, and the target of their fury was the ethnic Koreans living in their midst.  As early as mid-afternoon on September 1, the day of the quake, reports, and rumors started that the Koreans had set the disastrous fires, that they were poisoning wells and looting ruined homes, and that they were planning to overthrow the government.  Approximately 6,000 unlucky Koreans, as well as more than 700 Chinese who were mistaken for Koreans, were hacked and beaten to death with swords and bamboo rods.  The police and military in many places stood by for three days, allowing vigilantes to carry out these murders, in what is now called the Korean Massacre. In the end, the earthquake and its aftereffects killed well over 100,000 people.  It also sparked both soul-searching and nationalism in Japan, just eight years before the nation took its first steps toward World War II, with the invasion and occupation of Manchuria. Sources: Denawa, Mai.  Behind the Accounts of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Brown University Library Center for Digital Scholarship, accessed June 29, 2014. Hammer, Joshua.  The Great Japan Earthquake of 1923, Smithsonian Magazine, May 2011. Historic Earthquakes: Kanto (Kwanto), Japan, USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, accessed June 29, 2014.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Why does bullying occur among prisoners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Why does bullying occur among prisoners - Essay Example Finally, the psychological forms of bullying comprise manipulating societal interrelations, extortion and scattering rumors (Blazer, 2005). The behaviors concerning bullying take place in every sphere of life such as in families, schools as well as in the workplaces. The effects of bullying behaviors might result in increased level of depression, fear, sadness and illness among others. In general, it can be stated that certain individuals generally perform bullying behaviors with the intention of exercising full control as well as domination particularly over the weaker individuals (Lines, 2007). Â  The significant aspect of bullying amid the prisoners has undoubtedly become a significant concern and it is regarded as a behavior that generally takes place amid every sort of prisoners whether young, men, adult or women. Different sorts of bullying can impose significant impacts upon the attitudes as well as the behaviors of the prisoners to a greater extent. Moreover, the effects of bullying can severely affect the lives of the prisoners in terms of generating fear as well as tension, physical injuries, depression, and illness (Ireland, 2002). Â  This paper intends to conduct a detailed literature review based analysis about the significant aspect of bullying that occurs among the prisoners in prisons. The structure of this paper will be designed by considering a descriptive as well as a critical evaluation along with a conclusion concerning the aforementioned subject matter. In this connection, the source materials that would be used for analyzing the aforesaid topic are renowned published journals and books along with pertinent online sources. Â  According to Tahir and Konstantinos (2011), bullying is regarded to be a persistent problem wherein the incident rates are incessantly rising significantly in the developed as well as underdeveloped nations.

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Exam questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Exam questions - Essay Example Furthermore, the chapter reviews the success of fixed capital requirements in terms of maintaining the relations between desired capital and risk taking. It also analyzes ways through which banks reduce effectiveness by taking to riskier assets. Capital requirements are also referred to as capital adequacy or regulatory capital. This is the amount of capital that commercial banks hold due to the requirements of the financial regulator. These requirements are necessary for the financial industry; to ensure that commercial banks do not accumulate excess leverage which leads to insolvency. Commercial banks have some behavioral preference when allocating loans to individuals. However, the capital constraints can make the banks to review the behavioral preference. This means that the financial regulator could utilize the strong constraints in capital adequacy to; review the fluctuations of the Micro economy and direct the economy to the required direction through the financial intermediaries like banks (Altunbas)1. Based on the approval of the Basel II model, this discourse defines the research question in the following way: Are rigid pressures exerted by minimum capital requirements efficient in minimizing the risk-taking behavior of banks? The framework of the Basel II structure in the subprime crisis forms the basis within which professionals question the proposals. This area covers the inadequacy of the level of capital requirements. The focus on examining the efficiency of regulatory capital requirements during the implementation of the proposals in Basel I model report executed from 2002 is part of the entire discourse. However, the discourse does not aim at testing the Basel I framework. Instead, it assess the efficiency of the regulatory pressure in relation to the degree of capital cushion in cutting down on the risk-taking behavior of financial institutions in the

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Life and Religion in To Kill a Mockingbird :: essays research papers

In the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ written by Harper Lee in 1960, life in the town of Maycomb is very traditional. Most people have the same racial prejudices and live by certain rules, also referred to as ‘codes’ by Atticus Finch (p. 224). Aunt Alexandra is a good example as she is not from Maycomb but lives 20 miles away. When she comes to live with Atticus and his children, Jem and Scout, the town accepts her immediately for with her â€Å"boarding-school manners† (p.142), her ladylike behaviour and her enthusiastic involvement into the Missionary Circle and the ‘Maycomb Amanuensis Club’, she represents the ideal of a Maycomb woman. Although all people in Maycomb are quite different from each other, most of them, especially the more accepted, show respect, discipline and politeness. This can be seen in the Missionary Circle where ladies sit together to talk, drink tea and eat cakes (p. 253-259) and although they might not always agree on everything, they never directly say so. For example when Mrs Merriweather starts to criticise Atticus’ doing in Tom Robinson’s case, at a Missionary Circle in front of Scout - not naming anyone - Ms Maudie interrupts her and cuts off the subject without drawing anybody else’s attention to the quarrel. There are not many people in Maycomb who are open-minded and willing to accept different people and/or things, which makes it difficult to change. So after loosing the trial, Ms Maudie admits that she did not think Atticus had any chance of winning but that he was â€Å"the only man who could keep a jury out that long† and that it was a step, if only a baby-step, towards equality (p. 238). Furthermore this intolerance leads to Jem and Scout being confronted with offences against Atticus’ decisions by town people and fellow students. For one thing Mrs Dubose, an ‘evil’ neighbour of the Finch’s, criticises Atticus in a way that Jem is not willing to ignore and ends in him cutting down all her beloved camellias (p. 112-114). This in turn leads to Jem having to read to Mrs Dubose for more than a month (p. 117-122). For another thing the children at school badmouth Atticus probably with what they overheard their parents saying and this time it is Scout who looses her head a couple of times. In a small town like Maycomb there is also a lot of gossiping and prejudices against ‘lower class’ people.

Friday, January 17, 2020

How Is Romeo and Juliet Relationship Presented

One of the play’s most consistent visual motifs is the contrast between light and dark, often in terms of night/day imagery. Need Evidence! This contrast is not given a particular metaphoric meaning—light is not always good, and dark is not always evil. On the contrary, light and dark are generally used to provide a sensory contrast and to hint at opposed alternatives. One of the more important instances of this motif is Romeo’s lengthy meditation on the sun and the moon during the balcony scene, in which Juliet, metaphorically described as the sun, is seen as banishing the â€Å"envious moon† and transforming the night into day (2. . 46). A similar blurring of night and day occurs in the early morning hours after the lovers’ only night together. Romeo, forced to leave for exile in the morning, and Juliet, not wanting him to leave her room, both try to pretend that it is still night, and that the light is actually darkness: â€Å"More light and light, more dark and dark our woes† (3. 5. 36) The Inevitability of Fate In its first address to the audience, the Chorus states that Romeo and Juliet are â€Å"star-crossed†Ã¢â‚¬â€that is to say that fate (a power often vested in the movements of the stars) controls them (Prologue. ). This sense of fate permeates the play, and not just for the audience. The characters also are quite aware of it: Romeo and Juliet constantly see omens. When Romeo believes that Juliet is dead, he cries out, â€Å"Then I defy you, stars,† completing the idea that the love between Romeo and Juliet is in opposition to the decrees of destiny (5. 1. 24). Of course, Romeo’s defiance itself plays into the hands of fate, and his determination to spend eternity with Juliet results in their deaths. The mechanism of fate works in all of the events surrounding the lovers: the feud between their families (it is worth noting that this hatred is never explained; rather, the reader must accept it as an undeniable aspect of the world of the play); the horrible series of accidents that ruin Friar Lawrence’s seemingly well-intentioned plans at the end of the play; and the tragic timing of Romeo’s suicide and Juliet’s awakening. These events are not mere coincidences, but rather manifestations of fate that help bring about the unavoidable outcome of the young lovers’ deaths. The concept of fate described above is the most commonly accepted interpretation. There are other possible readings of fate in the play: as a force determined by the powerful social institutions that influence Romeo and Juliet’s choices, as well as fate as a force that emerges from Romeo and Juliet’s very personalities. Link this to Friar Lawernce! STRUCTURE -briefly answer the question awhat the relationship is like, what sort of impression you get of the relationship. Second paragraph)-Context- write about how men/women were supposed to behave when the plays were written a how is this reflected in the text? (this bit is essential for Band 4/5). How do you think an audience might have responded to the relationship when the play was first performed? How might a modern audienceas response be different? (Third paragraph)- How language reveals the relationship- select 3 or 4 key examples of words that reveal to you the relationship a might be a simile /metaphor that has be en used or a striking phrase/word. Try to select them from the different scenes you are focusing on. For each make sure you analyse how the word/phrase suggests ideas about the relationship, not just what it suggests. (Fourth paragraph)- How structure reveals the relationship- think in particular about the relationship changes as the play progresses- analyze how Shakespeare shows the relationship changing as the play goes on. (Fifth paragraph)- How dramatic techniques reveal the relationship- this might include: the setting; actions; stage directions. Try to find one or two examples Shakespeare presents Romeo & Juliet's early relationship as a love-hate affair. By this I mean that although they love each other immensely, they are surrounded by the hate of their two families Arranged marriages were very common at the time depending on your social status and love had no meaning. At the time marrying at the age of 12 appeared to be normal, however now is frowned at.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Character Analysis for Maus by Art Speigleman - 2020 Words

Character List- round or flat Art Spiegelman- r * Art Spiegelman is the author and narrator of Maus, and also one of the storys main characters. * Born in Stockholm after the Holocaust, he is the only surviving child of Vladek and Anja Spiegelman. * He is married to Francoise, a French woman who converted to Judaism upon their engagement. * Maus centers around two primary narratives: Vladeks experiences as a Jew in World War II Poland, and Arts relationship with his aging father. * When the story opens, Art lives in New York and does not see his father very often, though he lives only a short distance away in Queens. * But as Art begins to draw this story about Vladeks Holocaust experiences, he begins to†¦show more content†¦* Before the war, Vladeks father intentionally starves his son so that he will be declared unfit for the army. * Later, the Nazi grip tightens, and all Jews are made to register in a nearby stadium. Those who are fit to work are sent to one side, while the elderly and women with m any children are sent to their deaths at the concentration camps. By registering at a table manned by his cousin, Mordecai, Vladeks father is spared. Before he leaves the stadium, however, he sees his daughter, Fela (Vladeks sister) and her four small children standing with those destined for Auschwitz. He crosses over to be with her, and all die in the camps. Uncle Herman- f * Anjas brother. * Along with his wife, Hela, he is visiting the New York Worlds Fair when the war begins, and they remain in the United States to escape the horrors abroad. Tosha- f * Tosha is Anjas older sister. * At the beginning of the German occupation of Poland, she lives with Anjas family in her fathers house, along with her husband, Wolfe, and their small daughter, Bibbi. * As the situation deteriorates Uncle Persis offers to keep her safely in nearby Zawiercie ghetto, where he is a prominent member of the Jewish Council. * She agrees, and leaves with Wolfe, Bibbi, and Vladeks son Richieu. Soon, though, the Germans slaughter the Jewish Council and begin to evacuate the Jews of Zawiercie to the camps. Rather than be sent to the gas chambers, Tosha