The Effect of Cultural and Historical Situations on...

Professor Brattoli †American literature is almost always tied to historical and social events of the era in which it was written.† There is a connection between literary works from different time periods. This connection is how history, current events and social events have impacted American Literature. Literary works and writing styles have been affected and influence by the world around us. This is seen in many of the works assigned for this class. In order to see how cultural and historical situations affect literature throughout history, it is important to get a brief history on each era discussed in this paper. The first era we will be reviewing will be writings from†¦show more content†¦It is easy to see that current events and issues of the world around them have had an impact on authors and what they have written from the stories in this time period. The Native American authors wrote stories describing life during and after white man came to America. The African American authors wrote stories describing life during and after slavery. All of these are issues that these authors lived through and experienced through the world around them. Even the fiction in this time period showed connections with events going on in the world. Maria Amparo Ruiz De Burton’s story â€Å"The Squatter and the Don,† written in the1880’s, is the story of a Spanish landowner who loses power over his land after the Mexican war and the Land Act. The Land Act was a federal law that prevented land to be bought on credit. The Land Act caused a lot of controversy in the 1800’s. America went through great changes between the years 1914 and 1945. World War 1 and World War 2 were both fought during this time period. Another event occurring in this time period is The Great Migration. This was the movement of African Americans out of the south and into the industrialized north. This event caused racial violence and strain between the northern whites and the southern African Americans. The roaring 20’s brought out many social changes, experimentation, and freedom. Women wore shorter dresses, smoked in public,Show MoreRelatedThe O. J. Simpson Case1576 Words   |  7 Pagesas a historical lens and cultural lens as well. The reason why I use those two perspectives was because; in history the black people has been treated as non-human, criminals, and properties. And in a culture perspective, black people are racial discriminated and profiled which plays a huge part in the OJ Simpson trial. The trial and case of O.J. Simpson has been described as one the mo st publicized criminal trial in all of American history. The OJ Simpson trial could be seen as cultural perceptiveRead MoreLearning Competencies1019 Words   |  5 Pagesmade) 1.4.2 Compare the stand and attitudes of newscasters and panel discussants 2. Demonstrate openness when listening to statements contrary to one ¶s beliefs 16 2.1 Take into account the context and situations that gave rise to statements contrary to one ¶s stand 2.1.1 Take note of cultural differences underlying contradictory views 2.2 Explore opportunities for obtaining varied views on a given issue by listening to debates and talk shows 3. Listen to important points signaled by pausingRead MoreThe Negative Implications Of Cultural Appropriation1718 Words   |  7 PagesThe Negative Implications of Cultural Appropriation Samantha Mulcahy INTC 1F90 Jeff Reichheld Seminar 3 Seminar Leader: Jeff Reichheld 13 March 2016 Word Count: 1526 Cultural appropriation is something that is commonly seen around the world in the Grand Narratives of dominant westernized cultures. The cultural appropriation of minority cultures in order to construct the Grand Narratives of dominant cultures has a negative effect on those who are apart of the oppressed minorities. TheseRead MorePedro Paramo : An Enormous Impact On Latin American Writers And Readers From All Over The World1694 Words   |  7 PagesZephorah Dove Professor Byala English 2097 3 December 2015 Pedro Paramo As a realist novel from Latin America, Pedro Paramo served an enormous impact on Latin American writers and readers from all over the world. Upon its release in 1955, Pedro Paramo barely sold 4,000 novels, yet the novel has sold millions worldwide and is translated into over 30 different languages. The reason why Juan Rulfo, the author, was deemed a literary figure in Latin America is largely because of this novel. The novelRead MoreMulticultural Education : Issues And Perspectives1422 Words   |  6 Pagesand perspectives by McGee Banks states, Behavior is shaped by group norms ... the group equips individuals with the behavior patterns they need in order to adapt (2005,13). Students will develop a cultural identity through the social groups he/she is involved in through race, social class, cultural capital etc. Through this research we will try to find what particularly enhances the academic success of a student. Researchers from various studies have determined that students vary in learning performanceRead MoreHistorical And Contemporary Stereotypes Of Native American Indian Women1133 Words   |  5 PagesHistorical and contemporary stereotypes of Native American Indian women have resulted in erroneous and callous images. Mass media, movies, and printed materials continue to depict Native American Indian women as either a princess or a savage. Native American Indian women are affected by non-humanistic myths and stereotypes that are advertised by the media, popular literature, and movies. The Pocahontas paradox represents a dilemma for Native American Indian women. This historical movement hasRead MoreEvidence Of The Problem From The Professional Literature Essay1550 Words   |  7 PagesProfessional Literature Historical achievement gap. Historically, the achievement gap was an unobserved problem back in the 1800s during the Reconstruction Era when unequal education existed. Butchart (2010) reported that racism and segregation between European American and African American students attributed to unequal education. Before and after the Emancipation, many African Americans attempted to set up schools for students, but violent assaults occurred that hindered African Americans from obtainingRead MoreA Marvelous Journey of Return in The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier 1224 Words   |  5 PagesA Marvelous Journey of Return The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier is the author’s journey of return to his Latin American root. He tries to decipher the myths and complexity of African identity and achieves it by opening up a new realm of interpretation and representation through literature work. In the novel, there are elements that can only come as a result of his experience of observing, questioning and criticizing, among which I think several are very noteworthy. First is Carpentier’sRead More Racism in Our Society Essay1438 Words   |  6 Pagesnot create it† (p. 372). The statements, therefore, of Nieto and Bode (2008) relative to the failure of our schools to provide all students regardless of their background or situation with equal and unbiased educational opportunities is an indictment of the society in which these schools exist. The ideals of the American democratic society are equal rights and equal opportunities for all people regardless of their creed, color, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender. Unfortunately, we haveRead MoreMovie Analysis : The Notebook 1088 Words   |  5 PagesOne moment is when Noah’s best friend bluntly asks Noah and Allie if they are in live after an awkward trip to the movie theatre. This is something that so many people can relate to, and recollect on who of their friends would do that to them in a situation as such. Another example of this is during an argument between the couple. Allie must decide if she will leave Noah for another man, and she expresses her doubts from their own personal relationship. Noah reacts by yelling bluntly â€Å"Well that s what

Othello is Solely Responsible for his Downfall in...

I believe Iago has nothing to do with Othellos downfall as Othello is an easily mislead man who is easily influenced. Not only did Iago not directly say Desdemona was having an affair, he neither didn’t give proof to confirm the rumours. By Othello believing the lies, it surfaces his inability to trust and have faith in his own wife. Othello is written by William Shakespeare and was set in Cyprus and Venice during the 16th century. It is about a well-respected military soldier who due to lies and deceits killed his wife for no reason and after turned the knife towards himself. The play illustrates how much one could be polluted in such little time; with the ‘facts’ based upon suspicions and assumptions from a source who was determined to†¦show more content†¦But we can’t make a final judgement as his true characteristics have not yet surfaced. We learn through Iago that Othello is a terrible man as he supposedly stole Brabantio’s innocent da ughter, Desdemona, and married her during the night; with the use of witchcraft and black magic to posses her into marrying him as Brabantio says; ‘O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter? Damned as thou art, thou hast enchanted her!’ We learn Othello through Iago that he is an easy target to manipulate because he is so open: ‘And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose As asses are.’ Othello can be lead into anything just because he believes everybody is a good honest person. In some cases, like Iago’s, this is a bad thing as he can be fooled easily by false assumptions. He also says he is an open and a straightforward person. â€Å"The Moor is of free and open nature That thinks men honest that but seem to be so†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He is approachable and straight forward man who supposedly has favourites, unfair, and always and must have his own way. We soon find out that this is false by the way Othello presents himself in front of the duke. By Othello obtaining these characteristics, he can be easily fooled and persuaded, which Iago acts upon. We find out Othello is a soldier. Being a soldier, you will also acquire the nature such as always shouting, commanding and bad mannered. We find out that Othello is exactly theShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare893 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s ‘Othello’ is a play that ends tragically with death of the antagonist, Othello who commits suicide after smothering his wife to death. The other tragic death is Lago’s murder of Roderigo. Lago, who may be considered as the villain of the play, is in a way responsible for all the tragic deaths in the play. He is a schemer who is able to conceal his moves and is considered an honest per son by almost every character in the play until the end of the play when it is discovered that he isRead MoreHis Moorships Ancient: Iago as the Protagonist of Othello1658 Words   |  7 Pagesrevered for his characterization of flawed and psychologically unstable protagonists. Hamlet is a crazed, murdering prince, Lear is narcissistic, senile, and a verbally abusive father, and Macbeth is a murderous traitor to his king and country. These unfavorable and evil attributes serve Shakespeares main characters by presenting them as realistically written men, and there always seems a degree, however small, of sympathy associated with their respective downfalls and tragedies. Othello, however,Read Moreâ€Å"Aristotle’s Definition of the Tragic Hero and Irony in Tragedy† Oedipus Rex, Othello, and Death of a Salesman3217 Words   |  13 PagesAristotelian theory which leads us to his definition of the tragic hero. Aristotle’s conceptualization of tragedy and all that it encompasses is widely revered and accepted; setting the standard previously and contemporaneously. The interpretation of his definition of tragedy is ambiguous, but generally states that tragedy should evoke pity and fear within the viewer for the purpose of catharsis, or purgation of senses sequencing the climax of a tragedy. (Battin) This elicits his definition of the tragic hero

Homelessness Melissa St Free Essays

Homelessness Melissa St George SOC 203: Social Problems Instructor: Risa Garelick August 28, 2011 I intend to show the meaning of homelessness and the different ways that people become homeless. I will also show how we can go about preventing homelessness. Homelessness means that one has no place to live. We will write a custom essay sample on Homelessness Melissa St or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"The most prominent sociodemographic characteristics identified with high risk of homelessness have been male gender, Black race, being unmarried, and being middle aged† (Greenberg Rosenheck, 2010, p1234-1235). Most of the homeless live in cities but there are those who live in the rural areas. Most of them are hidden because they are homeless for shorter periods of time. There are several causes or reasons why people are homeless, some of them are by choice and others are forced, contrary to most people’s beliefs that they â€Å"are drug addicts, alcoholics or are mentally challenged† (syzygyastro). The different types of homeless people are â€Å"push-outs†, victims of environmental catastrophe, mentally ill, the new poor, the technologically unqualified, the elderly, runaways, the demoralized, alcoholics, ease addicts, travel addicts, and excitement addicts (Henslin, 2008, p 228). The â€Å"push-outs† are people or families that have been forced out. They can be teenagers who are thrown out by their parents. The parents may have thrown them out due to They can be adults or families who have been evicted by landlords. Due to the high costs of rents, they may have had to choose between paying the rent or other necessities such as food, clothing, or gas. Or they could have lost their home due to the â€Å"sub-prime mortgage catastrophe that has made more than families homeless in 2008 and now threatens a further 48 percent of the rest sub-prime mortgage holders who are late in payments or in default† (Syzygyastro). Victims of environmental catastrophe have been forced out due to hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes, tsunamis, or other environmental disasters. The mentally ill have been forced out by hospitals or insurance companies. They are unable to care for themselves, so they live out on the streets not knowing how to survive in the â€Å"real† world. They can also become homeless because they need to choose their medications over rent. â€Å"20% to 50% of homeless adults suffer from a serious mental illness† (Greenberg Rosenheck, 2010, p 1235). The new poor are forced out from a job due to technological change. There jobs are taken over by machines and/or globalization. The company moves to another part of the world, so that they can pay fewer wage to their employees. The technologically unqualified have been forced out because they never posed any technological skills, so they are unable to keep or get jobs. The wages that they do receive are so low that they can not afford an apartment. The elderly have been discarded. They have no family support, no income, and most are unemployable. Runaways choose to be homeless due to unstable living conditions. Most of these runaways are teenagers who have been physically abused. Some are the results of the system failing them. Most of the runaways are between the age of fifteen and seventeen but there are some that are as young as age ten. The demoralized are the depressed who have given up. The addicts are those who have been addicted to alcohol or drugs and choose their addictions over their homes. 0% to 80% have a history of substance use disorders† (Greenberg Rosenheck, 2010, p 1235), â€Å"thirty eight percent of homeless people have a problem with alcohol addiction and that another twenty six percent of homeless people have addictions to other drugs† (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2003). The Anti-Drug Abuse Act has made impossible for people who are convicted of a drug-related crime to keep their public housing . In the 1950’s the deinstitutionalization of psychiatric treatment was the major factor of homelessness. The ease addicts choose homelessness. They are usually in their early twenties and want to escape responsibility. The travel addicts choose to be homeless and want to roam. The excitement addicts choose to be homeless. They enjoy the thrill of danger and because it offers the â€Å"edge†. The other things that are also associated with homelessness are past incarceration, exposure to trauma, lack of low-income housing, and the decrease in public funds. â€Å"As a result of loss of benefits, low wages, and unstable employment, many families leaving welfare struggle to get medical care, food, and housing† (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness† (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). There are many ways that we can help to prevent homelessness. In 1987, the McKinney Homeless Act took the first steps to this by making it a federal law that there ne eded to be funding for the homeless. The next steps that we need to do is to evaluate the homeless in our communities to see what programs or services are most in need. We need to evaluate our homeless shelters. We need to have job training and financial programs. We need to keep track of the people that we help. We need to set up supportive housing and/or â€Å"Unfortunately, government action and public policy of recent has not necessarily helped the plight of the homeless, in fact in some cases it has served to compound the problem† (Gaddis, 2007). When we evaluate the homeless in our communities to see what programs or services that we need most, we need to do it in a way that is nonthreatening and compassionate. We need to evaluate our own bias, so that we can put them aside and help them. Many of the people that experience homelessness are not the stereotypical homeless persons that would come to mind when thinking about this problem† (Gaddis, 2007). We need to find out why they are homeless and look to the local government for help. Public assistance programs can help the homeless with some of their problems. There needs to be some type of coordination between homeless sh elters and public service agencies. Some people will not go to public agencies for help because of the bias of others and/or because of their pride. Many of the reports that I read told of conditions at shelters as being in poor condition. An example of this is when FEMA set up the social housing after Hurricane Katrina. â€Å"Some people are highly critical of these camps, calling them nothing more than concentration camps complete with barbed wire and gun towers† (Syzygyastro). The other reports that I read talked about shelters that were run down, very few of them, and they were riddled with disease, pests, and thefts. Job trainings and financial programs will be able to help the homeless get back on their feet. We should have some kind of job training programs for these people because most of them are there due to a job loss. This would also help the runaways who need to the life skills to survive in the world. Financial programs could be very helpful because it can help them get their finances in order and to teach them how to stretch their earnings by budgeting. We need to keep track of the people that we help. Too many times people get the help that they need and then they are forgotten about. We need to set up programs that help this people and offer support over a long period of time. Studies of placement programs often find that they lose track of residents within the first year, so track clients carefully, and assess their need for specific services† (Solutions for America). We need to look at supportive housing or â€Å"Treatment of substance abuse has been reported to improve outcomes in homeless persons with dual diagnoses of serious mental illness and substance abuse† (Folsom, Hawthorne, Lindamer.. , 2005). When we set up supportive housing for addicts, we can help them to beat their addictions and set up their new â€Å"life†. We can also help the people with mental health disorders; get the supports that they may need. We will only be able break the cycle by coming together as a community and working on ways to help those that are having a difficult time. We need to remember that one day that could be us and we would want someone there to help us. Annotated Bibliography: Why Are People Homeless?. (July 2009). Retrieved August 12, 2011, from National Coalition for the Homeless website, http://www. nationalhomeless. org/factsheets/why. tml. The article talks about what homelessness is and the many causes of it. Gaddis, Roger. (2007, August 22). The Homeless in the United States. Retrieved August 12, 2011, from website http://www. associatedcontent. com/article/351165/the_homeless_in_the_united_states. html? cat=4, The article talks about the number of homeless people in the United States and reasons why they are homeless. Youth Homelessness: Facts and Solutions. (n. d. ) Retrieved August 12, 2011, from Yout h Noise website http://www. youthnoise. om/page. php? page_id=6145. This article talks about the causes for teen homelessness and how we can prevent it. Preventing Homelessness in America. (n. d. ) Retrieved August 12, 2011, from Solutions for America website http://www. solutionsforamerica. org/thrivingneigh/homelessness. html. The article talks about the many causes of homelessness and how we can prevent it. Addiction Blog. (2011, January 7). Drug and alcohol abuse and the homeless. It talks about the statistics for drug and alcohol abuse among the How to cite Homelessness Melissa St, Papers