Essay on Popular Cultures Subserviance to High Culture

Popular Cultures Subserviance to High Culture For about a century, Western Culture has really been divided into two cultures, the traditional type of high culture and a mass culture manufactured wholesale for the market. High culture is the arts that require some form of intellect to comprehend, so therefore can only reach a tiny segment of the population, whilst levelling accusations of elitism. High culture includes ballet; the forms of operas, operettas and symphonies; types of film; certain novels; theatre and plays. Mass or popular culture is derived from high culture, so for every item in high culture, there is a corresponding item of lesser importance in popular culture. Forms of popular culture include television,†¦show more content†¦Mass culture is imposed from above, as Karl Marx recognised, onto the passive susceptibility of the ignorant masses, to which decisions lie between consumption or no consumption. It is therefore, the Lords of kitsch that are the sole beneficiaries; mass culture integrates the masse s in a form of debased high culture. This lack of control proves the power of the mass culture businessman, shown when during the 1929 depression, when capitalism was in chaos, focus was turned from the idols of production to the idols of consumption such as Hollywood movie stars, creating a dreamlikeworld, a marketing heaven, for the masses to aspire to. Mass culture can therefore never be worthwhile. Commodities are imposed upon the masses, taking away freedom of choice and individuality. Instead of being related to one another as members of a community, the relation is formed with a system of industrial production, something abstract and untouchable. The great culture-bearing elites have communities with members having an individual role and sharing similar interests. In contrast, mass society sinks to the lowest level, to that of its most primitive members, its taste complies with that of the least sensitive and most ignorant member. Members accept any idiocy if it is wholly ag reed as knowledge in the capitalist superstructure. Homogenized mass culture is so rigidly democratic, refusing distinction or discrimination that it succeeds in destroying

Effects of capitalism Free Essays

Capitalism West has been an important destination in American history. First it was a discovering target for Louis and Clark, later it became a spot for people to seek riches in gold rush. Whether it was for money or establishing settlement west has become an important place for American people. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of capitalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now For these reason, one of the family who moved out west were the loads. During 1930’s, Midwest was hit hard by the great- depression. And to aggravate these effects dust bowls were sprawling all over Midwest. The Joads were immensely devastated by these conditions in ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ by John Steinbeck. First the author shows how the all over Midwest families were the target of dust bowls because the land was over used and crops weren’t rotated. Because people couldn’t grow their own crops, they had to borrow money from lenders, only to end up in debt they couldn’t pay. Since the debt wasn’t paid their land was taken away by the banks and corporation leaving them without Job or income. To coup this process The Joads decided to head out west looking for an opportunity to feed their family. But their hopes will be overturned by the misery that awaits them. In chapter 19 of ‘The grapes of wrath’, Steinbeck summarizes how Capitalism has left man-kind to turn Inhuman. During the 30’s the rich were becoming richer and poor were becoming poorer. There was a distinct line between upper and lower class. Whether it is Oklahoma or California, the wealthy showed no gratitude for the poorer. In Oklahoma the banks wanted to make profits from land by combining thousands of acres together. Same situation applied in California. But the land in California was stolen from Mexicans by the early â€Å"tattered feverish† squatters. Steinbeck uses distinct diction to assert that early settlers in west can be compared with incoming Okies. As time went on, these squatters’ children had lost their lust for land. Even though their forefathers had earned the land through hostility, But for newer generation â€Å"the hunger was gone, the feral hunger, the gnawing, tearing hunger for land†. Author uses this run on sentence to explain how the lives of the land owners were effortless, because hunger is one of the instincts that motivates mankind. Since their predecessor had left them wealthy, the owners didn’t value the land. These owners had distinct themselves from farming. They had lost their lust for â€Å"a shining blade to plow it, for seed and a indmill beating its wings in the air†. Steinbeck uses imagery to demonstrate the importance these tool would hold for a farmer, but the owners did not recognize them because they had separated themselves from farming. Since their connection with land is lost, the owners turned their attention to making money and profit. Steinbeck illustrates the shift from man-power to machines during the 30’s. One man on tractor can replace twelve families on a farm. With this revolution the man shifted from a farmer to a ‘shopkeeper’ and ‘manufacturer’. This transition made the land owners less sympathetic to land. Farming is no longer their main occupation because â€Å"the crops were reckoned in dollars, and land was valued by principal plus interest†. Steinbeck compares rich owners with banks in Oklahoma. The owner no longer tarmed tor teeding their tamily or tor survival, but tor making solely profit. In contrast of rich owner the Okies only want to farm to feed their family and for their love of land. Steinbeck shows the owners in California had become so powerful â€Å"crop failure, drought, and flood were no longer little deaths within life, but simple losses of money’. But this reason would be death within life for a farmer in Oklahoma. If a farmer had experienced crop failure or drought, it could mean they had to go into debt for feeding their family. The banks took the land from the farmers because of the debt. This resulted in mass migration from Midwest to California. Since the rich owner treated farming like industry, they did not care for their workers. Steinbeck shows that the â€Å"Owners followed Rome†. He compares the migrants with slave because the owner gave low wages only enough for surviving and not living. This shows the greediness of the farm owners. This also portrays the affect that capitalism has had on the rich owners. In ‘The Grapes of Wrath’, Steinbeck shows the unpleasant conditions of working class during the 30s. During those times people from Midwest suffered socially and economically. Thousands of people migrated west to seek a better life, only to be left devastated. In difference from the misfortune farmers, the banks and rich land owners took advantage of new machine age to increase their wealth and profit. This in turn lead to industrial farming and left the farmers Jobless. It shows the selfishness of upper class and hardship of the farmers. The result of capitalism led to a chaotic situation between landowners and the poor. How to cite Effects of capitalism, Papers

Love marriages Essay Example For Students

Love marriages Essay Haralambos (1995, pg 317) stated in his book that the family is regarded as the cornerstone of society. It forms the basic unit of social organization and it is difficult to imagine how human society could function without it. In the past the family has been seen as an institution, which has formed the foundations of many societies throughout the world such as morality and the progression of economics. On the other hand, in the light of various observers, the family is seen as an oppressive institution which benefits men only Delphy and Leonard cited in Haralambos (1995, pg333). In order to try and discover whether family life has lost its significance in contemporary Britain or not, there are certain types of questions that must be kept in mind and asked in order for an effective answer to be given to the title question. What are the arguments that support or rebut the notion as to whether family life has lost its significance in contemporary Britain? Why is family life even being considered to be losing its significance in contemporary Britain? The overall aim of this essay is to discover whether family life has lost its significance in contemporary Britain and by engaging in subjects such as divorce and cohabitation, one hopes to form a naturally reasoned essay structure, with the chances of a plausible conclusion may be being achieved. With the rise in love marriages and the decline in marriages for convenience, divorce in modern societies where the former type of marriage reaches a state of crisis seems inevitable. Wilson (1993) a Marxist sociologist, acknowledges the fact that changes in the law, notably the divorce act of 1969, was the most dramatic of all divorce reforms which preceded this date. The full year to which the new law was applied was 1972, and in that year there were 119,000 divorces made absolute in England and Wales (Wilson 1993, p85). On the other hand Diana Gittens (1993, p161) a feminist, notes undoubtedly divorce is a source of upset and disruption for children, yet it can also be a great source of relief and release from a previously painful and intolerant situation.  This breakdown of the ideal family unit has resulted in the creation of three different types of family units. The first unit to be created is due to divorce, which refers to the legal termination of marriage. The result is two homes created for the child/children and two families with both usually competing for the affections of the children. The second unit to be created is that due to separation, which refers to the physical splitting of the two partners and what is more of a temporary measure before a decision is reached as to whether they should get back together or divorce. This undoubtedly can go on for several years. Ultimately there is the empty shell marriage where the spouses remain legally married and live together but the love between them is close to non-existent, it is jus a marriage that exists in name and on paper only. The existence for this shell is only for the sake of the children involved, but the results are often less helpful and more damaging. An article published in The Observer 05/05/2002 Nuclear family goes into meltdown in which it discusses the fall in marriages and the rise in cohabitation, seems one of the obvious datas, which supports the idea that family life is losing its significance in contemporary Britain. It is no wonder researchers have coined a name for the emerging British household the Beanpoles. They live together and have 1.8 children.

The End of History Views of the Philosophers

Summary of the article The world history has been portrayed in diverse ways by a number of political philosophers. In this article, the author presents the arguments of a substantial number of philosophers. The paper brings out the views of the philosophers on the world history, particularly the political and economic developments and their implication on the existence and relations between human beings in diverse political and economic landscapes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The End of History: Views of the Philosophers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The author tries to present an end of the world history by bringing out the main arguments from the major philosophers and the implication of the arguments as portrayed by the contemporary organization of the world. The author draws a comparison of the history of the political and economic course as it is founded in the arguments that are posited by a number o f scholars, who include Hegel, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Paul Kennedy, and Kejeve among others. The critical question in the article concerns whether there is a cofounded explanation in the political philosophies that are advanced by the scholars, which depict an end to the political and economic order of the globe whose search has been depicted in a number of political and economic courses like the three main world wars. The author makes an analogy of the current developments in the concept of governance by drawing from the ancient philosophical theses by Hegel, Kejeve, Karl Marx and Max Weber. The aim of the author is to draw a relative comparison of the current structures of governance from the theses that were advanced by the ancient scholars as a way of determining the relative factor of governance and its foundations in the philosophies. As it comes out in the article, there are a number of contradictions in the explanations of historical events and the linkage of the events to th e contemporary developments in governance, which according to the author, mark the end of the world history (Fukuyama n.p.). Different political and economic philosophies like capitalism, socialism, Leninism, and democracy among others are brought out in the article. The author brings out all these philosophies in his bid to explain the pros and cons of each ideology and their impacts on governance in the present environment.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The competitive and comparative scales of these philosophies is also brought out in the article, where Fukuyama tries to explore the foundations of each philosophy by mainly focusing on the level of reception in the regions or states in which the philosophies were exercised. An example is the explanation of how Leninism was exercised in the former Soviet Union and how it impacted on the political and economic organizations of the reg ion. The ideologies come out as competitors in the sense that each of them has a different impact on governance when it is used. While liberalism seems to come out as the main philosophy that is widely embraced in contemporary governance, Fukuyama presents a critique of liberalism by relating it to other attributes of governance in states like nationalism. The socio-political and economic foundations are subjected to criticism in the article. Finally the author presents the symbolism of the contemporary political situation in the world, which is marked by the struggle between the developing and the developed world. Whether the conflict between the developed and the developing world about issues of governance will ever come to an end remains to be a rhetoric topic (Fakuyama n.p.). Analysis of the views in the article In the article, the author argues that western civilization has been fully universalized, which marks the end of the historical developments that have been depicted in p olitical battles such as the three main world wars: the First World War, the Second World War and the Cold War. What ought to be asked is whether the western civilization has been universally accepted as argued by the author. Most people, especially from the non-western world, still hold the western civilization with contempt. They base on the modalities that have been used by the western nations to ensure that they popularize the western civilization at the expense of other civilizations across the world. While it cannot be denied that the western civilization is dominant in the world, it remains critical to note that most people from the non-western nations oppose the means through which such a civilization is enhanced by the western states.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The End of History: Views of the Philosophers specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The contemporary global political economy still denotes the battle between other civilizations, for example the Asian civilization and the western civilization that still appear dominant (Burdyuzha 353). The author makes a comparative exploration of how different authors relate the interplay of politics in the contemporary world. The argument that the ideal of Hegel that the behaviors of all human beings are founded in consciousness has lost stance in the hands of later thinkers is quite unheeding. All the explanations of the political, economic and social relations as brought out by late thinkers like Karl Marx have elements of human consciousness. The concept of utilitarianism as expounded by Marx and other political concepts that have been developed by other scholars like the definition of the industrial society are based on the views of human beings on how political order is attained. The rationalization of the interplay between politics and economics and the basis on which a set of political and economic actions are taken by nations in the contemporary political economy invoke a lot of thinking. This implies that human conscience, which was the main idea and an area that was highly explored by Hegel, is also founded in the concepts of political economy that came later after him. Political priorities and actions often raise questions and debates, for instance the action by the United States to attack Iraq. Such an action elicited diverse reactions from people across the world, which implies a founded explanation in human conscience (Fukuyama n.p.). Liberalism has been explored by a substantial number of political scientists in the sense that one cannot base on the argument of a single scholar to justify the essence and interplay of attributes of liberalism in the current political state of the world. The 19th century saw two main challenges to the concept of liberalism. These are fascism and communism. Fascism lost its essence in the course of the Second World War. Communism was promoted at this time due to the foc us of the world on anomie and the set of political and economic structures that could ensure political, social and economic security for citizens in different states since an ideology in the Western world was only prevalent for a limited period of time. This was prevalent in a number of political parties in communist states in Eastern Europe.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, as it is today a substantial number of changes have been put in place in the western world, especially in Eastern Europe. Communism has slowly faded, with most countries in Western Europe giving up the communist philosophy as a way of fitting into the seemingly liberal Western Europe community (Fukuyama n.p.). Has communism really faded in the western world or is it just a tactic of the countries that used to embrace communism to fit into the economic order of Western Europe, which is depicted in the functioning of the European Union? This is a critical question that is asked when talking about the issue of economic order in Europe. It is argued that most of the Eastern Europe countries have been forced to adapt to liberalism and shun communism to fit and benefit from the European Union. This is one of the indicators of the influence of ideology on governance in contemporary governance. A look at the attributes of autocracy in the Asia reveals that the Asian nations like Ch ina that used to embrace democracy have had to minimize the features of communism. This move has enabled them to transact in the global economic order. Again, it is argued that the Asian countries still uphold communist dimensions in their countries. They drop most of the elements of communism while managing their economic activities in other parts of the world. This is another critique for people who see western liberalism as an ideology that has been widely accepted in modern governance across the world (Paul, Miller and Paul 41-43). Fukuyama argues that the issue of balance of power in the international political scene is dictated by the emerging issues between the developed and the developing world. This is a candid observation. The modern political economy highly revolves around the status of political and economic development between the developed and the developing nations. Is there a chance for the developing world to overtake the developed world and dictate the course of so cio-political and economic development in the world? While the author recognizes that China and Russia have transformed their politic and economic stature, he only sees this as a threat to the developed world (Fukuyama n.p.). Fukuyama argues that China and Russia will take a relatively longer time to join the developed states of the west as liberal states. This, according to the author, is based on the fact that the states embrace a different ideology from that which is upheld by the developed states of the west. These countries embrace Leninism and Marxism as the core pillars of transformation in socio-political and economic governance, while the western states fully embrace liberalism and democracy. These forms of governance are used to manipulate the developing states. As opined by the author, the difference in the ideologies is likely to remain as a factor of competition between the developing and the developed states. Therefore, in no point will the west accept to be grouped wi th the developing states from Asia, Latin America or Africa in as far as they still uphold political ideologies that are different from those that they uphold. The author also denotes that competition in the contemporary political world is slowly shifting from mere ideologies to the quest and pace of technology adoption and incorporation in production (Inozemtsev and Dutkiewicz 89-90). Technology is seen as a crucial parameter for improving the lives of the citizenry. The pace at which technology is being adopted and improved upon in countries like China depicts a new set of competition between the developed and the emergent economic powers in the world. The increased rate at which technology is being embraced denotes movement away from the traditional ideologies. Order in the contemporary and future world is bound to be shaped by technology; the search for newer and more efficient technologies and the solving of problems that emanate from technology. These include environmental pol lution and the change in the socioeconomic order owing to the full embrace of technology in discharging economic and social functions (Fukuyama n.p). Whether political ideologies can be fully killed is a question that is subject to debate. The rationale behind this concern is that the world is already witnessing a problem concerning the embrace of technology and its resultant impacts. Instead of cooperating to foster oneness in solving the contemporary problems facing all nations, there is still a drift between countries as portrayed by finger-pointing. The observation in the article is that a new dynamic of conflict is again emerging in the world; this time it will not be centered on political ideologies per se, but on the problems and challenges of technology. Therefore, cycles of socio-political and economic events in the world are not likely to come to a rest. This is why the author argues that the end of history will mark the beginning of history. This, in its deepest sense, im plies that the global history cannot easily come to an end since the end depicts the acceptance of a common course by all states in the world, a situation that is quite overwhelming to attain (Stunkel and Sarsar 2). Works Cited Burdyuzha, Vladimir. The Future of Life and the Future of Our Civilization. Dordrecht: Springer, 2006. Print. Fukuyama, Francis. The End of History? 2003. Web. http://www.wesjones.com/eoh.htm Inozemtsev, Vladislav, and Piotr Dutkiewicz. Democracy versus Modernization: A Dilemma for Russia and for the World. New York, NY: Routledge, 2013. Print. Paul, Ellen F, Fred D. Miller, and Jeffrey Paul. Liberalism and the Economic Order. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1993. Print. Stunkel, Kenneth R, and Saliba G. Sarsar. Ideology Values and Technology in Political Life. Lanham, MD: Univ. Press of America, 1994. Print. This essay on The End of History: Views of the Philosophers was written and submitted by user Kason W. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Other things essays

Other things essays Walking down the hall I get a sense of disbelief. Is this really me and am I really here or is it a dream. I just transferred to a new school. Though it does not sound that bad, in actually reality it has been a total turn around. My old high school (Hancock High) was a small, all white, and in the county. Though the school (Patterson) I just entered is densely populated, majority black, and right in the middle of Baltimore city. Though both types of schools (county and city) are largely different they both have many advantages and disadvantages. An advantage of going to a city school is that you get a college feel. There are so many students and teachers that you get a head start on college. Also there is diversity at a city school. You get to meet all kinds of people and learn about their customs and beliefs. Another advantage of going to a city school is that you get to express your opinions more freely. Though there are going to be people who think different, there is always going to be someone on your side. Many of city schools advantages involve a person growing spiritual and mentally. Though at a county school kids are most likely to be smarter and be more prepared book wise. Also there is less violence than in a city school, so you feel a sense of security. Though I could go on and on about each type of school, I would rather not. In most cases a school has more disadvantages than advantages. The perfect school would be made up of ones ideas and would simply be all fun and less work. But a school does have its cons. Such as at a city school there is a lot of crime. Also the peer pressure is so hard to handle which is why most kids fall into the trap. I am not saying that county schools are perfect, but most county kids no when to say no and when it is enough. Going to a county school you get sheltered on some common and important aspects of life. Such as poverty, racial issues and crime which a...

Chiang Kai-Shek Leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Chiang Kai-Shek Leadership - Research Paper Example Chiang Kai-shek passed on in 1975, after living for 88 years. For two decades, Chiang Kai-shek served as the Chinese head of state on the Chinese mainland until 1950 when he served as the president of the Republic of China in Taiwan. He was born on October 30, 1887, in a place known as Chi-Kou, Chiekang. His father was a salt merchant who died in 1886, leaving the burden of Chiang’s upbringing solely to his mother, who was his third wife. In 1905, Chiang Kai-shek went to Ningpo in pursuit of education where he decided to venture into a military career. The following year, Chiang Kai-shek traveled to Tokyo but failed to qualify for military training. This was when he decided to go back to Tokyo, where he studied at the Paoting Military Academy, after which he furthered his education at the Shikan Gakko Military Academy, in Tokyo. Kai-shek was a very close ally to fellow Chekiangese Ch’en Chi-mei, who sponsored Chiang’s entry into the controversial Sun Yat-Sen†™s revolutionary party T’ung-Meng Hui. Chiang returned to Shanghai when a revolution broke out on the 10th of October 1911, in Wuhan. Cheng returned to fight against their adversaries under Ch’en. A sequence of triumphs by the Ch’en, as well as other revolutionists in the Yangtze Valley, set the ball rolling for the installation of Sun Yat-sen as the official provisional ruler of the Chinese Republic. In 1913, there was yet another bungled second revolution in which both Chiang Kai-shek and Ch’en Ch’i-mei also fought.

Children's Books Should be Censored Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Children's Books Should be Censored - Essay Example If publishers and distributors will not take responsibility for the content of their product, then we need to monitor our children's books, and censor those with the most violent and offensive content. Widespread censorship and wholesale book banning may not seem to be a practical solution in the complex world that we live in. Filtering out books that have offensive messages may be a never ending task for which there is no end. However, we can ban a book from our libraries and public schools when common sense tells us it runs afoul of accepted sensibilities. The Supreme Court may guarantee freedom of speech, but it does not grant an audience and it does not guarantee a space in a public school classroom. We regulate movies based on content, provide ample warning on the packaging, and restrict access to them based on age. Censorship goes beyond the simple act of forbidding production, it resides in the gray area of proper labeling and age appropriate access. Viewing material that is inappropriate for a young mind can have a profound and lasting impression on a child. As more violent and offensive material becomes available in our public schools and libraries, it filters down to younger children. A child's imagination will act out and emulate the characters they read about with the assumption it is fact and therefore acceptable. Left unchecked, violence and horror can have a severe psychological effect on children younger than 8 years old. The belief that children can tell the difference between reality and fiction at this age does not prove to be the case when subjected to scientific scrutiny. According to the University of Wisconsin's Joanne Cantor, "It's especially ineffective to try to calm children in this age group by telling them that what they have seen is not real" (Cantor). Children will believe what they have read and it can carry a lasting effect that will permanently mold a mind with an unrealistic view of the world and rein force crude, violent, and inappropriate behavior. Censorship should reach beyond the sexually charged, profane, and graphic violence that is only the most visible sign of inappropriate children's literature. Messages that are racist, sexist, and derogatory can desensitize children to the callus and inflammatory remarks that find their way into books and into our libraries. In the book "One Fat Summer" which the publisher says is appropriate for 12 and up, a young man fears jumping from a diving board. He laments in his fright, "... they kept screaming for me to jump, to show I was a man; if I didn't jump I couldn't be a man, I'd be a fag all my life" (Lipsyte, 207). A 12-year-old will likely repeat this slur against the gay community and use it with the mistaken belief that it is an acceptable form of public speech. Messages that are contained in derogatory images of social, ethnic, or racial groups are as common and just as powerful as overt violence, yet they may lay hidden in an otherwise placid story of kindness and sincerity. We control every other aspect of our child's education and we should also control what they read. We scrutinize their math, grammar, and history books for accuracy. Why should we treat children's litera