Kubrick, Eisenhart, And Stuff About Conforming Essays -

Kubrick, Eisenhart, And Stuff About Conforming Stanley Kubrick uses his film, Full Metal Jacket to say that people today are brainwashed products of decades of conditioning. Kubrick strongly encourages us to relish individual thought. He expresses that societys ideology encourages conformity, which can eventually cause fatality. Also the article You Cant Hack It Little Girl: A Discussion Of The Covert Psychological Agenda of Modern Combat Training by R Wayne Eisenhart realizes the extreme repression on individuality in the Marines. We all like to think of ourselves as individuals. However, in truth, we all live in a mass denial created be ourselves to feel less guilty about instituting severe pressure to, and the consequences if one does not, conform. The way one learns about oneself is often through others words and actions. This outside feedback creates a role for a person that he/she accepts as who he/she is. Therefore, it is the words and actions of another that forms the self-identity of a person, and ad this relationship develops, positive, reinforcing words and actions become necessary for ones healthy existence. Of course, there are varying degrees of conformity, and in most people there is the struggle to hold on to their individuality. This struggle is apparent in the scene in Full Metal Jacket when Gomer Pyle is beaten with soaps in towels. The other members of the troop become upset at Pyles nonconformity, and their negative feelings eventually reached the point of violence. Then Pyles struggle was ended and he became like the others, a killing machine. In his article, Eisenhart recognizes that the training process created intense emotional conflicts generated by the formation of a male role, and that there was a continual structured effort to degrade and shape the individuals self-image. (32) Because all throughout history conformity was a necessary way of life, one may see society now as completely brainwashed. Kubrick depicts the longstanding tradition of the US Marines as a kind of cult where everyone is uniformly behaved and not one thought is individual. Even Joker, who has an image of originality in the film, eventually gives in to the group. First in the scene where he is cajoled in to hitting Pyle with the soap, and second when he struggles with himself, but ultimately conforms by killing the Vietnamese sniper at the encouragement of his peers. In the beginning of Full Metal Jacket, the head shaving, which has been a part of military orientation for ages, is symbolic of the men leaving behind their personalities and individuality in order to be accepted into a group. The music playing in this scene further emphasizes the loss with the repeated goodbye, and the new prefabricated self-image with hello Vietnam. Eisenhart further describes this military brainwashing a s a certain blank look in his eyes signifying the achievement of psychological control. (29) One can easily see the parallel between military uniformity, and everyday civilian life. Even such an accepted institution as education is really an attempt at creating identical model citizens. For example, in high school, a student is rewarded for complying with the rules, joining clubs, participating in class and doing well (according to an appointed figure) academically. However a student is severely punished for failing, or being antisocial and even further excommunicated from the society. Another method society uses to force conformity upon people is the consumerism ideology in America. Money is taught to people from birth to be one of the most important aspects of life, through the media, personal accounts and just about everything. One eventually believes that they must have a lot of money in order to have an enjoyable, successful life. To get money, one conforms to be the person who is awarded a well paying position. If one does not conform to the standard they will not be p aid well, will not be able to buy things media tells them they need, and therefore be different and unwanted. In both situations, such harsh labels as excommunicated or unwanted, the individual may become depressed and ultimately suicidal. Kubrick blatantly makes a connection between nonconformity and death in Full Metal Jacket. Pyle, the most unique of the troop, murders both the Drill Instructor and himself in the second

Passing the Buck Slip

Passing the Buck Slip Passing the Buck Slip Passing the Buck Slip By Maeve Maddox The other day I received a letter that directed me to refer to an enclosed buck slip. Id never heard the expression, but I figured out that what was meant was a printed insert. Apparently this term, along with lift note, is common in the world of direct mailing: theres really very little difference between a buckslip and a lift note except that a lift note is generally written as a mini-letter. Buckslips can be any sort of additional insert. I wondered where the expression got its name. Could it be that the buck slip was called that because it was about the size of a dollar bill? Other questions bubbled up. Why is buck another name for dollar? And why does passing the buck mean avoiding responsibility? Heres where the questions led. The word buck to mean a dollar may come from the use of buckskins as articles of trade. Answer.coms definition of buckslip (spelled as one word), a small insert added to a mailing package; it is usually about the size of a dollar bill implies that the name may derive from the buck/dollar connection. Merriam-Webster, however, favors a different origin, defining buck slip (two words) as 1. a routing slip used especially in military offices to indicate the persons to whom the attached material is to go and usually the kind of action to be taken with such material and 2. an object formerly used in poker to mark the next player to deal or to deal a jackpot, the winner of each jackpot placing the buck in front of him; especially : a buckhorn-handled knife used for this purpose According to J.W. Keller, author of Draw Poker (1887), The buck is any inanimate object, usually knife or pencil, which is thrown into a jack pot and temporarily taken by the winner of the pot. Whenever the deal reaches the holder of the buck, a new jack pot must be made. According to a site called Dutch’s English Language Oddity Clearing House: Some card games use a marker called a buck. Players take turns acting as dealer with the buck marking the current dealer. When the buck is passed to the next player, the responsibility for dealing is passed. The buck slip as routing list explains the expression to pass the buck. Before email, when someone at work wanted everyone to see the same message, one copy of the message was sent around with a list of recipients. Each recipient checked or crossed off his name and passed it on. The person who passed the buck slip on without checking his name could claim he wasnt responsible for knowing what was in the memo. When President Harry S Truman placed a sign that said The Buck Stops Here on his desk in the Oval Office, he was assuring his staff that he would take responsibility for all problems that came to his attention. I dont know that any of that really explains buck slip as a term for a mailing insert, but it was an interesting exploration. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Compared "to" or Compared "with"?Dawned vs. Donned10 Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills

Comparison Peter Singer's and Garrett Hardin's Positions on Helping Article

Comparison Peter Singer's and Garrett Hardin's Positions on Helping the Poor - Article Example In his article Hardin contrasts two metaphors: â€Å"spaceship metaphor† and â€Å"lifeboat metaphor†. The first metaphor represents the egalitarian model of distributive justice, which the author considers unreasonable: The spaceship metaphor can be dangerous when used by misguided idealists to justify suicidal policies for sharing our resources through uncontrolled immigration and foreign aid. (Hardin) The latter is a new concept introduced by Hardin. â€Å"Lifeboat ethics† advocates the state-centered approach to justice: First, we must recognize the limited capacity of any lifeboat. For example, a nation's land has a limited capacity to support a population and as the current energy crisis has shown us, in some ways we have already exceeded the carrying capacity of our land. (Hardin) From a utilitarian standpoint helping the poor puts a strain on the economy of the rich countries, where certain groups get financial benefit from the charity programs. The autho r shows how the concept of the World Food Bank cannot possibly be implemented to achieve the goal: Some countries will deposit food in the world food bank, and others will withdraw it. There will be almost no overlap. As a result of such solutions to food shortage emergencies, the poor countries will not learn to mend their ways and will suffer progressively greater emergencies as their populations grow (Hardin). In the author’s view giving help to the poor is the result of a misunderstood concept of justice. In this approach, the poor are seen as victims of circumstances: unfavorable geographical position, unequal distribution of resources on the planet, ineffective government, weather conditions, and emergency situations like natural disasters. The author stresses that the rich face similar difficulties, but learn to overcome them. The arguments lead the author to the controversial thesis: it is morally wrong to give food aid to poor countries. Hardin gives a rational justi fication for the ineffectiveness of food and technology solutions offered by rich nations. To emphasize his point he returns to the lifeboat metaphor and shows that in poor countries population grows faster and in they would eventually overturn their own boats and the ones belonging to the rich (Hardin). If the moral concept of guilt comes into play the author, introduces the metaphor of a lifeboat where a sympathetic passenger feels guilty for being in the boast while many people have to be in the water. He gives his seat to the one swimming in the sea, but the person who takes the place feels no guilt for having what others don’t have.  Ã‚  

Web Content Outlier Mining Through Using Web Datasets Research Paper

Web Content Outlier Mining Through Using Web Datasets - Research Paper Example The amount of knowledge sought by an individual is always very specific. Search of specific knowledge from the huge databases and data warehouses has become an essential need. Knowledge seekers while surfing web content on internet, come across large amount of information which is irrelevant to the subject of search and it is generally referred as web content outlier. This research investigates different methods of extracting outliers from web contents. Using web contents as data sets, it is aimed to find an algorithm which extract and mine varying contents of web documents of same category. Structure of HTML is used in this paper with various available techniques to model for mining web content outliers. Web content outlier’s mining using web datasets and finding outlier in them. In this modern time, the information is overloaded with huge databases, data warehouses and websites. The growth of internet and uploading and storing of information in bulk on websites is exponentia l. Accessibility of information is also made very easy for common man through internet and web-browser technology. The structure of web is global, dynamic, and enormous which has made it necessary to have tools for automated tracking and efficient analyzing of web data. This necessity of automated tools has started the development of systems for mining web contents. Extracting data is also referred as knowledge discovery in datasets. The process of discovering patterns which are interesting and useful and the procedures for analyzing and establishing their relationships are described as data mining. Most of the algorithms used today in data mining technology find patterns that are frequent and eliminate those which are rare. These rare patterns are described as noise, nuisance or outliers. (Data mining, 2011) The process of mining data involves three key steps of computation. First step is the process of model-learning. Second step is the model evaluation and the third step is the u se of the model. To clearly understand this division, it is necessary to classify data. (Data mining, 2011) The first step in data mining is the model learning. It is the process in which unique attributes are found about a group of data. The attributes classify the group and based on it an algorithm is built which defines the class of the group and establishes its relationship. Dataset with their attributes known are used to test this algorithm, generally called classifier. Results produced by the classifier assist in determining minimum requirements for accepting data of the known class. It gives the amount of accuracy of the model and if the accuracy is acceptable, the model is used to determine the similarity of each document or data in a dataset. (Data mining, 2011) The second step in data mining is the model evaluation. Techniques used for evaluating the model depend largely on the known attributes of data and knowledge types. The objectives of data users determine the tasks f or data mining and types of analysis. These tasks include Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), Descriptive Modeling, Predictive Modeling, Discovering Patterns and Rules, and Retrieval by Content. Outliers are generally found through anomaly detection, which is to find instances of data that are unusual and unfit to the established pattern. (Data mining, 2011) Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) show small data sets interactively and visually in the form of a pie chart or coxcomb plot. Descriptive Modeling is the technique that shows overall data distribution such as density estimation, cluster analysis and segmentation, and dependency modeling. Predictive Modeling uses variables having known values to predict the value of a single unknown variable. Classification

The Advantages of a Technological Advance Curriculum Essay Example for Free

The Advantages of a Technological Advance Curriculum Essay As technology advances, more schools are adopting a technological curriculum. Only about 20 years ago computers were not common and very few people understood the importance of the internet. Today almost everyone in America has some sort of device hooked up to the internet. Schools started using technology in the 1980’s, and as time moved on, more and more schools became technologically integrated. Technology integrated schools not only teach classes like computer programming, keyboarding, and web tech but also use technical devices in class. Some people argue that the technological approach to education is not effectively teaching students social skills but instead depriving students of human communication. However, technology in the curriculum is a step forward and can only improve the general education system for three main reasons the technology job field has increased drastically and will continue to do so, the positive benefits are outstanding, and students are more engaged, lastly, technology in the education system has helped people who would normally have difficulties and handicaps. The age at which children learn to use these technologies is decreasing as the popularity of the internet increases. Education department chair, Bill Lynch says technology gets students used to the idea that they are not just a consumer of knowledge but also a creator (Zeeble). Teaching children skills that they can build on and thrive in is one of the most important aspects of the education system. The earlier a student is introduce d to the technology world the better they will learn advanced skills in the future. (Effect on technology on classrooms and studies). Children who play video games are not only learning the game but they are learning life skills: Kids are clearly learning how to do certain kinds of things, whether that’s running around, whether that’s actually playing the game. They are learning what to do. Because rules are not given to them, they have to intuit them. They are learning why to do certain things, which is the strategic part of the game. They are learning where, which is the context of the game†¦ and most important, they’re learning whether to do something or not. So that just because you can hit somebody over the head with a baseball bat in the game, the question is, should you. (Elmasry) Video games promote skills needed like working in teams, collaborating, and other skills needed to succeed (Elmasry). There are many jobs that require even the basic computer skills and there are many jobs that didn’t even exist ten years ago. Social media/online community manager, blogger and online advertizing manager are a few off the list (Liz Ryan). Experts view video games as tools that help kids develop certain skills needed in tomorrow’s workplace. Teaching students how to understand and how to manage technologies used in today’s workforce at an early age is an experience every school should offer. Multiple studies have proven technology in education as positive. In 2005 Empire High School in Vail, Arizona gave every student and Apple laptop and came away with two impressions, students with laptops where more engaged and there was more they could do with the technology (Beardsley). With the internet you have the world’s information at the student’s fingertips; research is more efficient and less time consuming. Schools have seen multiple improvements from higher test scores to better attitudes. â€Å"In a west Virginia state wide research study, researchers found that the more time students participated in the Basic skills/ computer education program, the higher the Stanford 9 scores rose.† with technology students are able to complete more complex task improving scores and attitudes. Students in a technology integrated school have shown increases in motivation from multiple perspectives. Many teachers have noted the kids have an increased willingness to work and a want to complete and perfect projects. Students also receive confidence about being able to learn skills that will help support them and their education for the rest of there life’s. (Effect on technology on classrooms and studies). Technology provides a new and changing way that students are able to share information and express themselves. Technology can also help people in situations that might make school a difficult place . In 2005 Cathy Carolyn’s year long intensive medical technology training program lectures where in MP3 format. Cathy was skeptical at first but she soon saw that her students where learning better than ever before. The students in her classes loved the new system. Busy students could listen to lectures anywhere they need. It also gave the students the option to review as much times as needed. (Zeeble) â€Å"It’s about how we can reach out to the students in a way that meets their needs, because so many of today’s students are not the so-called traditional learners† (Zeeble). If a teacher has their lesson online than missing a day or two may not be that big of a deal, but in traditional schools it’s really hard to collect make up work and finish it along with the work you already have. If a student has needs that traditional schools can not meet than technology can always improve the situation. Some people believe that challenging the traditional way of learning is destructive. Director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mitch Resnick, said, â€Å" What we found in our research is that children’s best learning experiences come when they are activity engaged in designing things, creating things, inventing things.† Which most believes requires hands on approach. People also challenge the idea of multitasking, humans can only truly focus on one specific thing at a time, the idea of children multitasking is ridiculous (Bouchard). Teachers are also concerned with the level of language presented by students and the deterating vocabulary of students that use technology. Besides these worries children in technological advanced schools are still more advanced than kids who are not. People may argue that technology in the class rooms can be harmful but it’s clear that integrated schools have helped students more than harmed. With rules and close moderation students can use the tools given to them to advance in the system. Technology in schools improves motivation; helps prepare students for the future and can help people who may have difficulties in the regular school system. The world is advancing and many schools are lagging along, soon to be left behind. Hopefully, in the future all schools will be technologically integrated so all children can experience the advanced learning system and excel in all aspects of school.

Marhsal Field :: essays research papers fc

Marshal Field The elder Marshall Field considered himself the â€Å"Chief Apostle of the American Way,† he epitomized the American Dream by becoming one of America’s first rags to riches stories in the industrial boom of both the pre-Antebellum and post-Antebellum periods. Marshall Field was born and raised as a humble farm boy and became perhaps the greatest businessman this country has ever had. Field learned his work ethic as a young boy by direct example of his father, who started working two hours before daybreak and stopped two hours after. As soon as Marshall could walk, he was working on the family farm. At the age of six, he enrolled in district school only during the winter months when farm work was scarce. He continued these lines of life until the age of fifteen, when the Field family was forced to stop working their farm due to a road closure. At this time it was decided that since Marshall was the youngest son and did not qualify for of the estate property, that he would have to go out and earn his own living. His father being friends with the local dry goods (general store) owner secured Marshall a clerking job in the dry goods store. Ironically, Marshall was fired from that same job after two weeks. When the father inquired what had happened the owner told him that your son has no future in the dry goods market and he should be kept at home on the farm where he belongs. Marshall Field then began working as a hired hand on his brother’s farm. After two years of being his brother’s servant, he moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts with his other brother. His brother had secured Marshall a job at the Deacon-H.G. Davis dry goods store. There his first year salary was a measly $400. However, he was able to save two hundred of this by sleeping in the store. By the time of the 1857 panic, Marshall had modernized Deacon’s credit policies; subsequently Deacon was not monetarily damaged by the panic. By modernizing Deacon’s credit programs Field was able to insure the store’s future by making credit harder to attain, by shortening the amount of time customers had to repay the store. Because of some unwise business dealings the store’s owners had been involved in, the store was reorganized into Cooley, Farwell and Company. Marshall Field was then awarded a partnership for his part in saving the store from the Panic.

American Pluralism Essay

Throughout history the United States has had immigrants flock to the united states in hopes of better opportunity. In the eyes of many ,the United States was land of prosperity and opportunity. This dream of becoming successful from nothing was known as the American dream . It built this nation into what it is today, which unfortunately is tainted with many negative aspects. President Clinton once said â€Å" The American Dream that we were all raised on is a simple but powerful one – if you work hard and play by the rules you should be given a chance to go as far your God-given ability will take you. † This coming from a man who was the president . However Clinton has neither â€Å"played by the rules† nor did he work hard. Clinton has made 80 million just off speaking , as well as his breaking the rules, which he is so famous for. Then how was this man, not hardworking and adulterous, become the American dream? Solely because the American dream is a myth, a fixed calculated lie. The American dream is just a notion to distract the less fortunate people that race, gender, and class control how much money you are going to make. A huge factor hinder people from acting out this dream is race. Race is socially constructed concept where groups of people of similar features and cultures are labeled . However races in our country still to this day are not treated as equals. For example, the average salary of a white person is above 45 according to the office personally management while ,a Hispanic is at 36 , black is at 37, and Asian is at 42, all for the similar jobs. However this is for the minorities who make it through the other hardships. For example one of these other hardships is â€Å" the school –to prison pipeline†. It is a foreign idea to most people because of how abstract it sounds. However the difference of funding in students directly affect attitude , dropout rates, and criminals. These students lack resources, qualified teaching, and rigorous advanced classes. Minorities are also punished worse, black children are suspended at least 2. 6 times to whites, thus leading to their 6 times more than whites rates of going to juveniles. In the eyes of an minority, school is a joke or a dream. Consequently there are few legal jobs that pay enough for a living without a high school diploma. This example is perfection under the school –to prison pipeline, giving the wealthy white leverage over minorities. Adding insult to injuries these injustices are replied with white advantages. as detailed in White privilege †White privilege is like an invisible knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports†(McIntosh. 45) In a just and perfect society we would all be equal, however the world we live in is very unequal. Not only is our world not economically equal , but racial either. Throughout America’s history there were an inequality among races. For example as a white person , you can be assured that the color of your skin wont effect the type of college you will be accepted to, as a minority that guarantee doesn’t exist. Thus how is a person of color supposed to make a proper and wealthy life for themselves if that door of education was never opened? This control of education keeps whites as the wealthiest race, and as such becomes a privilege only for them. How can such laws be kept in play if they hinder other races? The answer lies in politics. Due to white privilege, white people can expect to have people of their color to be accurately represented. This gives an huge hand in any legislature that can possibly effect minorities. Even in all these privileges, there’s an negative aspect that becomes paramount in our modern day society. These privileges cause a strenuous tension between races , because of the fabricated superiority that it gives whites over minorities. Hence, this so called â€Å"invisible knapsack† is only invisible to the user , and is in perfect sight of the oppressed. This just adds to the ocean of oppression felt by minorities proving race hinders the completion of the American dream. Male or female, seems like a simple question. However there is a world of connotations that come with such labels. Men and women have these values that are pushed upon them by society, confusing them to who they truly are. This Severely effects people who are confused on who they are ,because these â€Å"transgender† might just people who are just different personality wise. Furthermore it affects you more than mentally but also affects you economically. â€Å" The more economic resources such as education and job opportunities , are available to a group, the more they tend to be monopolized by men†(Lorber 246). The author is stating that women in general are qualified yet underpaid. This is entirely true , through every field of work you see women being paid less for the same or less work. Lorber believes socially that gender is a process of assigning rights and responsibilities. Men and woman see what is â€Å"expected† of them and assume the role is theirs, whether it be fair or not. This contradicts the American dream, because it preaches economic prosperity for all who work for it, and statistically women cannot reach that level. Hence, they hardly attempt to reach that high. How did they get to this point what defined these roles to one another , the answer lies among media. Advertisements, commercials, magazines. We are constantly bombarded with these pictures, voices, and idols . Anyone who looks normal or acts different is assumed to be a joke or outcast. Through these images we show our children how to act and to assign themselves personalities because of what their genetic makeup is. † It is this link with violence that makes the objectification of women more serious issue than with men. † (Kilbourne.263) This violence factor directly correlates with dominance. If you look through photos or magazines you can pick up a specific trend of nudity and pornography. Even more so , there is a constant jab at women , making them â€Å"inferior† With this sort of image growing up why would there be any motivation to be more than in those pictures? What is better than becoming rich? Being born rich is the most logical answer and this is how this 1 percent lives. The majority of this money, the . 1 % is old money. This money has been accumulated for hundreds of years and will be for hundreds more. The correlation of class and achievement of the American dream has been time and time proven. â€Å"Reality 6:All Americans do not have an equal opportunity to succeed. Inheritance laws ensure a greater likelihood of success for the offspring of the wealthy. †(Mantsios. 320) Yet another prime example of what class does for your chances at the American dream. The converse can also be enforced, without class it is a abnormality to live â€Å"the American dream†. The â€Å"American dream† is just something we can strive for but not truly reach. The American dream was known for our idea of Manifest destiny so we killed thousands of Indians because we thought of them as second class citizens. We have supposedly progressed ,transcending racism and sexism into an extinct ideas. However they just exist socially and economically now, just changing its brutality. These issues can’t be stopped through intellectual movements or programs, laws need to be enacted to change these process. These political figures need to stop thinking with their wallets and speak from their people. Without our changing of the law how are we supposed to become a more equal society. We live under a living document called the Constitution, if it promises our pursuit of property, now happiness , why can’t it assist us in the American dream. MLA Work cited page McIntosh, Peggy . White privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack. IndependentSchool. 1990 Mantsios, Gregory media magic :making class invisible. Rothenberg P. S. , ed. â€Å"Race, Class and Gender in the US† 3d ed. New York: Martins, 1995. Lorber, Judith. â€Å"Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender. † Yale University press. Yale college. 1994.