Various Essays

Women writers

Byanjankar — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:09:21 +0000

“Women increasing prominene in the nineteenth century generated a backlash from some male modernists, who asserted their own artistic seriousness by indentifying women writers with the didactic, popular writing against which they rebelled”(1189) In this era, it seemed to me like female writers had really taken a kind of ego within themselves against male writers which had made them furious. Result of which, during 1914 to 1945, lots of female writers came in light with magnificient poems and fiction stories. Some of them are Marianne Moore, Willa Cather, Zora Neale Hurston, and Mina Loy. They suprized manly world associating themselves with all the literary trends of that era.

Woman writing about woman mainly concern me to explain the literary trend over masculine writers. For that I choosed “Helen” wrote by Hilda Doolittle AKA H.D. because I felt like with the concept of modernism, H.D had written this poem to generate a backlash from male modernists. She explained the pain of “god’s daughter, born of love” (1519) in the cruel masculine world. The poem is all about Greek princess, Helen who was kidnapped by the Trojan prince Paris from her husband Menelaus and married her. This made Helen a character to hate by all Greece “All Greece hates the still eyes in the white face”(1518) which I guess resembles every women in the present modern world where women are still considered as a product made for men.

Modernism Abroad and On Native Grounds

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:57:50 +0000

After searching many writers who have written for their native place, I came across with Edgar Lee Masters who had also written many poems and fictions focusing on a particular part of the United States. Among his numerous poems, I found “Lucinda Matlock” one of them. He was native born of Kansas, KS so, in this poem he described the enchantment of his living with Davis. “I went to the dances at Chandlerville, and played snap-out at Winchester”(1209) signifies how he like doing things there at Kansas. With Davis, the narrator lived together for seventy years enjoying which made him thing that “Life is too strong for you – it takes life to love life”(1209).

Similarly, “My Antonia” is another example of contribution to native ground by the american writer Willa Cather. This fiction is about a man who were migrated from Bohemia to Black Hawk, Nebraska and a girl named, Antonia Shimerda. Together with those character, this fiction explains the place or let me say the living environment and the place itself of Nebraska. “While the train flashed through never-ending miles of ripe wheat, by country towns and bright-flowered pastures and oak groves wilting in the sun…”(1216) describes the scenario of Nebraska which I think author might not have forgotten. In deed, he imitate it to his fiction and gave us the lively view of that place.

Harlem Renaissance

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:57:16 +0000

“Harlem Renaissance, an African American cultural movement of the 1920s and early 1930s that was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Variously known as the New Negro movement, the New Negro Renaissance, and the Negro Renaissance, the movement emerged toward the end of World War I in 1918, blossomed in the mid- to late 1920s, and then faded in the mid-1930s.” (Microsoft) Ricard Wright who was born in 1908 A.D. became the first African American author of a bestseller. Like other African American writers, his youth also “goaded to brutal violence by oppression, hatred, and incomprehension of the white world”(2066) That hatred empowered him to write. In 1940, he published Native Son which “made the point that the United States is as much the country of black as of whilte; the story showed that blacks had been deprived of their inheritance”(2066)

“The Man Who Was Almost a Man” was a fiction which I felt like the result of hatred and voilence back then. In that story, Dave, who wanted to become a man so that nobody can dominate him, so that nobody can hate him hence, wanted a gun. His willingness for a gun, for me seemed like that time the domination of the white over black was high and every black people has got anger within them. This statement can be proved by the act of Dave’s mother who instead of refusing to buy a gun allowed Dave to buy a gun and gave him $2. She might not also felt safe with the living standard they were living or she might wanted to see her son becoming a man.

If I have to compare the above fiction with Langston Hughes’ essay “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain”, I found the same concept of the racial border. During Harlem Renaissance, white were high at its peak and blacks were emmerging from its initiation in every field such as litrature, arts, music and so on. Due to this, every black people wanted to become white or let me say strong. White means not the color white but powerful, respectful, and intelligent as white people at that time.

Modernism

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:56:34 +0000

“Modernism is a catchall term for any kind of literary production the interwar period that deals with the modern world. More narrowly, it refers to work that represents the transformation of traditional society under the pressures of modernity, and that breaks down traditional literary forms in doing so” (1184) For an instance, “The sun shines in on your books, on your scissors and thimble just put down” (1352) explains the scenario how time has passed while searching for something. The poet tried to summarize the scenario by ommiting the explanation of what she was searching. Also, she omitted the interpretation of the subject by beginning arbitrarily. She used different elements which we might not have thought of the connections such as sun shine, books, thimble and so on. The poet was talking about Madonna of the evening flowers but she directly never mentioned throughout the poem because she slightly transformed her poem from tradtional poem to modernized poem without any explanations and connections.

“With a basket of roses on your arm. You are cool, like silver”(1353) explains the tradition of carrying flowers by ordinary women during 1914 – 1945 period which also added flavour to modernism. Overall, Amy Lowell, despite of her high society and luxeriest background has succeeded making herself an imagist poet with numereous poems at her time.

The importance of restraint and following a right path

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:55:40 +0000

“He who recognizes the existence of suffering, its cause, its remedy, and its cessation has fathomed the four noble truths. He will walk in the right path.” This phrase is extracted from the Buddha’s Sermon at Benares trying to direct all human beings on the moral path which is free from sins, agony, and tragedy. Likewise, the extracted phrase from the Quran, “God has promised forgiveness and a rich reward to those who have faith and do good works; those who reject faith and deny our revelations will inhabit the blazing Fire” explains the importance of following the right path, the path which is true and conducive to human beings, the path which helps in enlighten our soul.

Every human being desires happiness. For the sake of that happiness, they never hesitate to try every possible ways, slaying other human beings, sacrificing animals, and so on. But they did not get a single chance to whisper happiness, a peace of mind because they were in lust; and the satisfaction of their worldly pleasure will not make them happy. According to the Tathagata[1], there is a middle path, that path which opens the eyes, and gives understanding, leading to peace of mind and to the higher wisdom with full enlightenment, to Nirvana.

Likewise, the Quran clarifies that god will take care of us if we follow the right path guided by him. To aware the consequence of sins, to direct us in right path, god has sent the Messengers[2] sometimes as Jesus (Messiah) and sometimes as Muhammad (PHUH[3]) so that we will not have any chances to say “No one has come to give us good news or to warn us”.

To be blessed by holy god, both excerpts mentioned the ways of restraint ourselves. The Quran mentions; “wash faces and hands to the elbows, wipe heads, wash feet up to the ankles and, if required, wash whole body. If any of us is sick or on a journey, or has just relieved ourselves, or had intimate contact with a woman[4], and can find no water, then take some clean sand and wipe face and hands with it.” Similarly, the Buddha’s sermon mentions; “deny fish or flesh, never go naked, never cover oneself with dirt, nor sacrifice anything to fire.”

In conclusion, there is only one path which is free from any other natural pleasures, free from sins and that is a path to obey the directions of the gods. Whether it is Gautam Buddha’s path or of Allah, the sole principle is to restraint ourselves, purifying one externally, with a spiritual thinking to do well, with an oath for obeying what we speak. No god wants us to place any burden on us. He only wishes to cleanse us and perfect his blessing on us, so that we may be thankful. We should follow the path which will take us to the truth of our existence and to the Nirvana.

[1] “The successor to his predecessors in office,” another name for the Buddha

[2] Paigambar

[3] Peace Be Upon Him

[4] Usually sexual intercourse

Observations about life in the world tell us about human nature

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:54:17 +0000

The excerpt from “Hammurabi’s Code” and “Bhagavad-Gita” though written in different time frames explains the human nature which has raised many problems in the society. These problems are earthly problems and every human being has to face the consequences whenever they accomplish despite of their age, cast, and sex.

The excerpted poem “Bhagavad-Gita” are the verse told my lord Krishna[1] to Arjuna[2] during the war between Pandava[3] and Kaurava[4] in the famous war “Mahabharata”. Arjun does not want to shed blood of his beloved ones even though they are his opponents. Beloved personnel were Acharya Dronacharya[5], Pita Mah Bhishma[6], Kulguru Kripacharya[7] and so on who have taken care of him since childhood, who have loved him, who never wanted any harm of him. So, Arjuna wants to give up the war from his side. But lord Krishna cleverly teaches him the meaning of life, the meaning of his existence, and the meaning of his Karma[8]. He says, “Arjuna, do not thing about sense-objects. It will attach you to sense-objects. Do not worry about this destructive body. Do not think death is the last destination. It is just a pause for next play. Our body is like clothes and every clothes worn have to be change. Think about Atma[9] which never destroys. If it is not destructive, then what is the reason of being sad? You are here to do your Karma. Your Karma says that your opponents are your enemy no matter who they are, what they have done to you in past. Think about the Karma they have done to invite this war. They have insulted the welfare of society. They have insulted Dhropadi[10], a princess of Hastinapur[11]. If you do not take revenge then how you will protect ordinary girl of your country? Know your rights. Know your duty. One who believe that happy and sorrow are same and go though it without being affected by it. That man is seer and illumined.” This verse is clearly explaining the reason of human existence and the consequence of wrongful deed no matter who did during life time. Everybody does Karma. Some does good Karma while others do bad Karma. The bad Karma pays off and this is the universal truth. But whatever Karma human do they have to pay off here in this life. Some pays off by paying fine while some has to pay off by their life.

Hammurabi’s code is a code of law and justice that the powerful king, the sun of Babylon set in the language of the land so as to promote the welfare of the people. He explains about the scenarios which people might get in and the consequences which are necessary to maintain the peace and justice in the society. If a man or a woman is found guilty of something, he or she must be punished but the punishment should be the nature of the deed which he or she has done. In front of law, no one is superior, neither king nor slave. Law and justice are equal to everybody.

Human nature should always be in the welfare of society without greed of getting something or loosing something in this destructive life. Those who try to violate this rule will suffer. And the punishment will be determined by the law so as to maintain the welfare of society where we are living.

[1] The supreme god according to hindu religion

[2] The great warrior of Mahabharata, an archer

[3] Were the warriors who fought for justice

[4] Are the warriors who fought against justice

[5] Who taught Arjun how to use arrows and bow

[6] Grandfather of Arjuna

[7] Teacher of the family

[8] Doings, actions which human does

[9] soul

[10] Wife of 5 pandavas

[11] The kingdom

Public Health Crisis arising from Type 2 Diabetes

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:52:40 +0000

Type 2 Diabetes is the predominant form of diabetes which is caused due to either the lack of enough insulin[1] production or the rejection of insulin by the body cells. The prevalence of diabetes has obviously grown over the years. According to an article in The New York Times [1], “An estimated 800,000 adult New Yorkers – more than one in every eight – now have diabetes, and city health officials describe the problem as a bona fide epidemic”. The same article states that in Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, the center is usually filled with diabetes patients. According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 21 million Americans are believed to be diabetics, and 41 million more are pre-diabetic[2]. Type 2 Diabetes is an incurable disease which is often fatal. The jumbled-up of medical complications of this disease have made some of the patients lose their limbs, toes, and even kidneys. According to a research in Australia [2], it is predicted that more than one in five diabetics would have MI[3] over a 10-year period. This was done by using data from a cohort of 825 patients with Type 2 Diabetes which suggest that Type 2 Diabetes is looming public health crisis all around the world and it needs to be prevented on time.

According to researchers of the University of Alberta, Canada [3], the damage to mental functioning apparently occurs early on in the Type 2 Diabetes disease process. This analysis involved 41 adults with Type 2 Diabetes and 424 healthy controls, all living in the same community. This research data was obtained from Victoria Longitudinal Study, an ongoing study of health changes that occur with age. “Nearly 98% of the patients with Type 2 Diabetes said it was mild or moderate and said they controlled their blood sugar levels with diet, exercise, oral medication, or some combination. About 7% were taking insulin.” The researchers found that a measure of thinking and reasoning known as executive function and mental processing speed were slightly impaired in the patients. This caused the Type 2 diabetes patients to be slow in thinking ability even at the early stage of diabetes.

If somebody has a disease or worse if that disease is an incurable one like Type 2 Diabetes, then it will lessen the life expectancy of that person. Recent studies from Australia [2] showed that there would be a mean loss of almost 1.5 years of life per patient over a 10 year period. They also predicted a 13% incidence of death over five years, rising to a 31% incidence over 10 years in Australia. In addition, the research showed that those who developed Type 2 Diabetes, experience a decline in quality of life several years before the commencement of the disease. This fact could be based on the quality of life measured including bodily pain, physical functioning, and social functioning.

In this fast-paced world, the civilization is more and more edging towards luxurious life, and doing away with regular exercises needed for our body. This definitely increases the likelihood of getting a disease like diabetes. Also, the inter-migration of people from one country to another with new tastes in food has added high possibility for this disease. Kleinfield states, “New York, a city of immigrants, where newcomers eating American diets for the first time are especially vulnerable.” But despite of its incurable properties, the disease can be controlled through carefulness in basic living habits. However, it can often be postponed and possibly be prevented by eating less and exercising more. Epidemiologist Dr Robyn Tapp, of Melbourne’s Monash University said, “The study showed we needed a better understanding of what was happening to patients before the onset of diabetes.” In conclusion, by being careful about our diets and doing necessary exercises, we can actually prevent and control the un-imaginable public health crisis of Type 2 Diabetes, which is gradually rising all around the world.

[1] Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert starches, sugar, and other food into energy needed for daily life.

[2] Their blood sugar is high which could lead to diabetic level if they do not change their living habits.

[3] Myocardial Infarction: destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle.

Language Essay

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:48:05 +0000

“Bilingualism as a bridge to other culture” says the author Ariel Dorfman as he strongly supported bilingual education to every youngster in order to make ties to the syllables of their past culture. He explained that knowing a second language is not always bad as it is very helpful to give people an economic and political edge. It also gives the best way to understand someone else’s culture, the most stimulating way to open one’s life and transform into a more complete member of the species. Targeting towards monolingual society of United States he concluded his statement for bilingualism by stating, “Your children would not be losing Shakespeare. They’ll just be gaining Cervantes.”

Another author Andrea Lo at first seemed very frustrated and aggressive on being Chinese origin. She always thought herself as a pure American not Chinese-American excluding herself from Chinese environment. For that she tried every possible methods from promptly forgetting Chinese memorized words on every Saturday night for Sunday Chinese class to intentionally not learning own culture from her roots. Even when she got a chance to stay for 3 years in China, she ignored the chance of learning Chinese language and culture. Later as she realized the importance of her culture, an inseparable part of her own heritage. She found language as a prime factor of knowing her own family’s Chinese background in order to discover how these culture influences have shaped her own behavior and identity.

I believe language has played prime role in development of every species culture. It is not just a bunch of coded words which only some interest groups can understand and rest not but it is that road which has been made wide from our ancient time so that we can still live and explore the heritage which our ancestors have left us. Because of language only, we got a chance to interchange our thoughts about our society, culture, tradition so wide that we are proud of bonding with certain interest group or cultural group. If there was no language then the world would have ended very long time ago without forming any human civilization, without forming any norms and rules which has bonded us with each other setting our culture and identity.

All the given essays of the book have argued on the positive aspect of language which I also strongly agree. Furthermore, the authors of these essays are not particularly stick on one language but they prefer other language as well in other to have an identity in society, in other to represent certain culture in the diversified society like United States. They want to speak their mother tongue with their family in public places also because they want to put some respect for their parents and comfort in their cultural roots. It’s not being rude to others who don’t understand that language and it’s not showing anti-citizenship with the country as well but it’s the matter of keeping one’s culture, living one’s heritage, and representing one’s lifestyle as well.

In conclusion, although some of the essays seemed controversial as they were only praising their native language (Spanish) against English language, all essays were equally explaining the importance of language with respect to the culture. If I’ve to give solid evidence of at least one author’s support of claim then the description given by Andrea Lo throughout the essay which was directly related with her life is very suitable and believable. She has shown the possible negative effect which made her think once again after excluding Chinese language throughout her life at the end of her essay. By her reaction, we can think that she must have worked hard to learn Chinese language in order to know her own culture, her own roots, and her own culture.

Digital photographs are better than paper photographs

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:46:21 +0000

Until 1975, when Steven J. Sasson developed world’s first still digital camera and a playback system, people had never thought that taking pictures and sharing it with other people around the world via “image-hosting online community” would be as simple as we are doing today (Stephens 58). They would not have imagined that we would be clicking the camera and taking numerous pictures we want without considering the amount and cost of taking pictures whether it be buying films to roll inside the camera or developing the photographs from that film (Manu). Though some people still believe that photo films are far better than digital photos in terms of cost and creativity, digital photos are coming out as the photography technology (a digital photography technology) which is more promising and efficient than film photos in terms of cost and creativity.

One of the arguments that the purist photographers give is that digital photographs are more expensive than traditional film photographs. From the initial cost point of view this is true because digital photos are taken by digital cameras which are indeed more expensive than regular single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. A good digital camera costs at least a hundred dollars but let us not look just at the initial cost of the camera but also at the operating cost. The operating cost of the digital camera is far cheaper than that of the film camera. If we use film camera, the first thing we need to worry about is to buy the rolls of film for which we need to invest extra money. Besides that, we need to process the film to get the real print pictures, which again costs extra money. Film costs more per exposure. It costs 6 cents per frame for a film like Superia 100 and about 7 cents for a lab to develop it and if need the prints, it will cost around 4 cents to 50 cents (Templeton). Therefore, though digital cameras are expensive than film cameras initially, the operating cost of digital cameras is cheaper than the film cameras which automatically makes the digital photos taken by digital camera inexpensive compared to photo prints developed out of SLR cameras. On 5^th Jan, 2009, I did a survey in English 1302 class to find out if people prefer digital photographs or paper photographs. Out of 15 students, 99% respondents have digital camera and thus, prefer digital photographs to view, share, and to store. This proves that digital photographs are not unaffordable to college students and and is getting more and more popular than film photographs.

Purists believe that taking and developing photographs needs to have knowledge about type of films, lights and processing skills in order to develop photographs. It takes a special skill to develop an impressive photograph using film camera (Hara). This argument is just a self-protective notion (self centered) of those conventional photographers. They are afraid that the digital revolution will underestimate their knowledge about the photography and is also a risk for their profession. If everyone begins to use digital camera to take photographs, the traditional job of the purist professional photographers were going to be at risk. This is the reason purists argue that going digital do not prosper their creativity. But I believe that one can be creative going digital as well. The only thing is that going digital will just change the way people become creative. People use different computer software like Adobe Photoshop, Gimp, and Illustrator etc to exercise their creativity. This is the reason HP annually organizes the “HP Imagination Competition”, which encourages school-children from all primary, post-primary and special needs schools to develop new skills in the use of digital imaging technology. Therefore, digital photography technology is great education tools for motivating students and inspiring creativity (Hara).

In conclusion, though paper photographs seemed cheaper than digital photographs while comparing with its use, in long run cost of digital photographs are cheaper than that of paper photographs as we can take as many pictures as we want without further cost. Also going digital can help people exercise their creativity in new ways that were not possible while using paper photographs. Creativity still exists in digital photography. Therefore, though purist photographers still believe that paper photographs are far better than digital, digital photographs are coming out as a photography technology which is more efficient in terms cost and creativity than film photography technology.

The Offbeat Allure of Cult Films

Byanjankar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:44:42 +0000

Sayoh Mansaray began her article “The Offbeat Allure of Cult Films” by introducing a teenager junior Clare Marshall who seemed a big fan of cult films. Cult films are low budget films that are “completely different from most movies in theaters.” These are the films which most teens defined their own kind of desired films because they are “off the beaten path.”

The essay has primary implied thesis that most of the today’s teens like Marshall, Katrina are active in a subculture, united in their love for cult films. Together, I found secondary thesis of this essay underlying, notion attempts to explain what non-mainstream films mean to teenagers. This article intended to educate students, parents, and faculty of Montgomery Blaire High School about the cult films subculture emerging in their school where most of the teens are deeply in love with cult films. Not only the targeted audience of Montgomery Blaire High School, this article widely gained attention worldwide since the article was published online. With logical and emotional appeal through different characters in this article, the article succeeded in bringing the reader into the lives of Clare Marshall and her school mates, however; the lack of believable data challenged the value of the practice.

As the author was a public relations co-director and fact-check supervisor at Montgomery Blaire High, Silver Spring, MD, we can easily believe her credibility. This article got published online partially sponsored by the well known newspaper The Washington Post which also added the credibility and popularity. The photograph, from the film Napolean Dynamite, further enhanced ethos in the article. The introduction of film teacher Mike Horne, junior Linda Dye, senior Walker Davis, and junior student Katrina Jabonete contributed to establish common ground with the reader very smoothly.

Furthermore, the author provided logical evidences with numerous quotations, from several sources, supporting her definitions of cult films. For example, Junior Linda Dye prefers classic cult films because, “you’re sitting with these people you’ve never met, but by the end of the movie there’s an energy — you’re a community,” she says. Katrina Jabonette liked recent cult films such as Donnie Darko because, “teens relate to these movies because it is so beautifully twisted and darkly weird that the film opens itself to a thousand different interpretations…” Historical perspective is provided by reference to the saga of cult films, and the acknowledgment of the 1975 film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” as a classic.

However, the writer failed to explain the cult film subculture to specific teen as she had used the words like some teen, teens, today’s teens which to me seemed like she is not sure of all the teenagers. Also, the word “Blazers” in paragraph two requires clarification. The quality and strength of this article’s needed evidence is weakened by the lack of accurate numerical data.

The article appealed to the sentiments of the audience as it tried to drive audience to act in certain way as the article described. For an instance, Clare Marshall, “likes to answer questions with Napoleon Dynamite quotes”. If a friend asks, “What are you doing today, Clare?” she might respond with a Napoleon line: “Whatever I feel like doing – gosh!”

Sayoh Mansaray’s judgment of a rising teen observable fact is useful, but inconsistent. Her numerous use of student/teacher quotations and statements, effectively presented a well rounded view of the emerging teen cult films subculture. Her reference to specific cult films, “Napoleon Dynamite, Donnie Darko,” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” has added some weight to her viewpoint. However, since she has neglected to specify the entirety of the cult films phenomenon, she leaves the impression that all teenagers are “gravitating towards these quirky movies:” which I believe is vague in itself and may not be true for all teenagers.