Violence And Pornography Essays (4243 words) - Pornography

Violence And Pornography Violence and Pornography Pornography -- Sex or Subordination? In the late Seventies, America became shocked and outraged by the rape, mutilation, and murder of over a dozen young, beautiful girls. The man who committed these murders, Ted Bundy, was later apprehended and executed. During his detention in various penitentiaries, he was mentally probed and prodded by psychologist and psychoanalysts hoping to discover the root of his violent actions and sexual frustrations. Many theories arose in attempts to explain the motivational factors behind his murderous escapades. However, the strongest and most feasible of these theories came not from the psychologists, but from the man himself, as a teenager, my buddies and I would all sneak around and watch porn. As I grew older, I became more and more interested and involved in it, [pornography] became an obsession. I got so involved in it, I wanted to incorporate [porn] into my life, but I couldnt behave like that and maintain the success I had worked so hard for. I generated an alter-ego to fulfill my fantasies under-cover. Pornography was a means of unlocking the evil I had burried inside myself (Leidholdt 47). Is it possible that pornography is acting as the key to unlocking the evil in more unstable minds? According to Edward Donnerstein, a leading researcher in the pornography field, the relationship between sexually violent images in the media and subsequent aggression and . . . callous attitudes towards women is much stonger statistically than the relationship between smoking and cancer (Itzin 22). After considering the increase in rape and molestation, sexual harassment, and other sex crimes over the last few decades, and also the corresponding increase of business in the pornography industry, the link between violence and pornogrpahy needs considerable study and examination. Once the evidence you will encounter in this paper is evaluated and quantified, it will be hard not come away with the realization that habitual use of pornographic material promotes unrealistic and unattainable desires in men that can leac to violent behavior toward women. In order to properly discuss pornography, and be able to link it to violence, we must first come to a basic and agreeable understanding of what the word pornography means. The term pornogrpahy originates from two greek words, porne, which means harlot, and graphein, which means to write (Websters 286). My belief is that the combination of the two words was originally meant to describe, in literature, the sexual escapades of women deemed to be whores. As time has passed, this definition of pornography has grown to include any and all obscene literature and pictures. At the present date, the term is basically a blanket which covers all types of material such as explicit literature, photography, films, and video tapes with varying degrees of sexual content. For Catherine Itzins research purposes pornogrpahy has been divided into three categories: The sexually explicit and violent; the sexually explicit and nonviolent, but subordinating and dehumanizing; and the sexually explicit, nonviolent, and nonsubordinating that is based upon mutuality. The sexually explicit and violent is graphic, showing penetration and ejaculation. Also, it shows the violent act toward a woman. The second example shows the graphic sexual act and climax, but not a violent act. This example shows the woman being dressed is a costume or being talked down to in order to reduce her to something not human; such as a body part or just something to have sex with, a body opening or an orifice. Not only does erotica show the entire graphic sexual act, it also depicts an attraction between two people. Her research consistently shows that harmful effects are associated with the first two, but that the third erotica, is harmless (22). These three categories basically exist as tools of discerning content. Although sometimes they overlap without a true distinction, as in when the film is graphic in the sexual act and also in violence, but shows the act as being a mutual activity between the people participating. In my view, to further divide pornography, it is possible to break it down into even simpler categories: soft and hard core pornography. Hard core pornography is a combination of the sexually explicit and violent and the sexually explicit and nonviolent, but subordinating and dehumanizing categories, previously discussed. Soft core pornography is thought to be harmless and falls into the category known as erotica; which is the category based on mutuality. In hard core pornogrpahy, commonly rated XXX, you can see graphic depictions of violent sexual acts usually with a man or group of men, deriving sexual gratification

Topics to Write an Essay About

Topics to Write an Essay AboutChoosing topics to write an essay about can be a bit of a challenge, especially when you have never done it before. It's important to choose topics that have a lot of potential for entertainment value, but that will also help you in the examination room. In this article, we'll give you some topics to think about if you are trying to learn how to write an essay.We've seen several studies from high school students and even college students where they wrote an essay on something they found interesting. There are many topics you can choose from, including your favorite food, current events, movies, TV shows, music, or other topics of interest. When writing an essay, it's helpful to think about things that make you feel excited, such as when watching TV, eating at a restaurant, listening to a music song, reading a good book, or watching a movie.One of the most important parts of an essay is the topic, so try to think about topics that have real importance for you. You don't want to write an essay about a topic that you find boring, or that doesn't have a lot of educational value.Another thing you should know about topics to write an essay about is that there are some places where writing a paper can be harder than writing one. For example, because essays are normally about one topic and no longer depending on research and facts, they are not as analytical as they used to be. As a result, many college students are thinking about subjects like essays or reports instead of taking exams. In this case, it can be important to make sure that the material you use has the same level of analytical work.With topics to write an essay about, you don't have to limit yourself to those topics that are typically used. There are other topics that have more entertainment value than academic value, and these are the topics you want to learn about. An example of this is sports. If you enjoy playing sports, there are a lot of topics to write an essay about t hat involve sports.Essays are an important part of school, and you want to make sure that you are writing an essay that will provide you with knowledge about the topic and also teach you how to use your skills and write properly. So make sure that you learn about the topic first, and then write an essay that gives you insight into the topic. That way, you can make sure that you aren't going to waste time.Writing an essay isn't hard if you can learn about the topic first. There are also many opportunities for topics to write an essay about, and you need to know which ones you should choose to maximize your writing. Even if you are unsure about what to choose, there are many topics to write an essay about you can learn about, so you should find out today.

Review of Huckleberry Finn.

Review of Huckleberry Finn. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, Huck Finn "must be pronounced the most amusing book Mark Twain has written for years." The article adds, "There is no limit to his (Twain's) inventive genius, and the best proof of its range and originality is found in this book." Needless to say, the book is given a favorable review by this publication for its creativity and its consistently entertaining storyline. The characters are engrossing and their descriptions and developments are "always good." The characters' antics are unforgettable, most notably, Huck and his companions' adventures while they travel through the Mississippi. Events such as the usurpation of Peter Wilk's brothers, Huck's cross-dressing, and Tom's eccentric ideas which transformed into the actual plan to save Jim are all particularly noteworthy. Nevertheless, not all of the bits in the story are, "an attempt at caricature." The review emphasizes that the settings in the story are very realistic.San Francisco Chronicl eRanging from the Phelps' one-horse cotton plantation to the small towns along the Mississippi, the locations are believable. The vernacular and commonplace customs are also noticeable. The article states, "Any one who has ever lived in the South, or who has visited that section, will recognize the truth of all these sketches and the art which they are brought into this story." All of these qualities make the experience of reading the book enjoyable, hence "The volume is very well gotten up, the illustrations adding materially to the fun of the story."The San Francisco Evening Bulletin views Huck Finn as anything but a masterpiece. The review declares that, "his (Twain's) books have the character of commercial ventures. He probably estimates in advance his profit...no book (Huck Finn) has been put on the market with more advertising." While the positive review sees humor as the...

Environmental Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Environmental Economics - Essay Example While for chemical contaminants this is done by assessing toxicological and epidemiological results, engineering or other disciplines are involved for other types. The second step is Dose-Response Estimation which in essence is the process of determining the magnitude of impact of a unit dose of the contaminant substance. The relation between dosage and possibility or incidence of the potentially adverse consequence is estimated. This is possibly one of the most complex steps of the entire risk assessment process particularly due to the fact that often the potential impacts on humans have to be extrapolated from the observed results on mice, rats etc thereby engendering the possibility of estimation errors. Also, the genetic or other differences between individuals imply that the hazard may be a stronger threat to a certain part of the human population thereby reducing the possibility of effective generalization of the results. Exposure Assessment attempts to identify the extent of human exposure to the substance given particular locations, lifestyles etc to quantify the likely doses of the substance that humans will be exposed to. Phthalates are identified as a particular class of multiple-function chemicals that are used in varieties of consumer as well as personal care goodsi. Due to the limited scope of this paper we shall discuss a very recently concluded assessment of phthalates in regard to possibility of contamination and risk particularly to children exposed to toys that used the substance as softeners. The research in late 1980s that showed that phthalates DEHP caused cancer in rodents exposed to very high doses and later another variant of phthalates known as DINP that was adopted as substitute for DEHP as softeners in toys though initially showed that it had not similar carcinogenic effects, did however cause liver damage to rodents, constitutes the first step of hazard identification in this case. It raised widespread

Editing Practices of Robert Loomis and Strauss-Gabel Essay

Editing Practices of Robert Loomis and Strauss-Gabel - Essay Example The editing practices and approaches between the two editors cum publishers are inconsistent. It is because they practiced editing at different generations and times. Loomis practiced editing earlier than Strauss-Gabel, who is to date actively involved in editing. Loomis approached the practice of editing in a classic and old-fashioned. His approach was understated as well as uncanny, polite as well as persistent and fierce/tough as well as tender. His approach in the practice of editing was thus diametrically opposed to that employed by Strauss-Gabel, which was less old-fashioned but instead more modern. She approached editing in a manner that was strictly tough, intimidating and offered stinging critiques. She believed it was the only way to get the best result from editing. Loomis, on the other hand, had a look warm approach of neither tough nor soft (Norton 67).In my view, the two editors shared a common strategy of getting the best results by actively collaborating with the writ er. Their editing practices, approaches, and techniques were aimed at working collaboratively with authors in the development phases of the books. It was to make sure that the editing and design of the book were best suited to for its marketing. It led to them becoming highly sought after by many authors. Their editing practices stood out from the rest and were highly successful. Their strategies and approach to the practice of editing has enabled them nurture writers and be a mentor for fellow editors in the general industry of publishing.

Teaching children Essay Example for Free

Teaching children Essay While it is necessary to monitor the programs that children are viewing on television, it is also important to understand that children do not have the concept of what is real and unreal at an early age. Teaching children to become media skeptics is expecting them to think and rationalize like adults. In the essay, Remote Control: How to Raise a Media Skeptic, Susan Douglas narrates how she tells her young daughter to become a more discriminating television viewer. The author is not against children watching television as evident in her statement, â€Å"I am not one of those virtuous, haloed parents who has banished the box from the home. She points out that growing up with TV provides her daughter with a form of cultural literacy that is important for the child’s growing years. She only wants her daughter to understand about what is on television and why it is there. It is an act of showing the child that whatever she sees on commercials is not what it is in reality. She believes that talking to children about what they see on television and what is unreal is important in raising them to become media skeptic. It is similar to giving them the skills and the tools to know that not everything is true on television because advertisements are there to attract us to buy products that are not as good as they are presented on TV. By nature, children are attracted to toys that are colorful, with moving parts and attractive sounds and media knows how to attract the very young consumers. Children prefer anything that stimulates their senses. They do not have the capability to understand about safety, durability, and cost. They are just kids who want to play with their toys. When they are in the toy section, they will pick toys that are seen on cartoons shows or TV commercials. When I was a child, I never had parents like Susan Douglas. My parents never pointed out what is good on television or what is real and unreal with what we see on the commercials. As we grow up, we have our own ability to know whether we are being fooled by the advertisements or whether they are telling us the truth. I believe that as long as we are studying, talking with people and we are exposed to all forms of media, the knowledge of determining what is real and not real will come naturally even without the intervention of the adults. Being a media critic, the writer Susan Douglas is sensitive to whatever she views on television. There is also a strong tendency for her to push her opinions on others and influence them on what she believes is real and what is not real. She monitors her daughter well and fears the effect of media on her child. Although there are positive and negative effects of television on the young viewers, I also believe that we should keep tract on what the children are viewing. However, I do not agree that children should be trained to become media skeptics at a young age. Adults should allow their children to be children. Pointing out everything that is right or wrong on television will affect the imaginary minds of the children. It will also spoil the fun of making children enjoy the toys that are in the market. We should not hasten the growth of the child and make them think like adults. I do not agree with the statement that â€Å"one of the best words to use when you’re watching TV with your kids is stupid. † Adults do not have the same imagination as children. What is stupid for adults may be fun for the kids. In time, children will know that ladies do not have perfect figures like the Barbie dolls and that both males and females do household chores and change babies’ diapers. Susan Douglas’ method may be effective because children trust the opinions of their parents and regard them as an authority figure. However, since most of us were not taught by our parents to be media skeptics, I believe that her techniques will not be fully acceptable to all parents.

Essay on Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy -- Invisible Man Essays

The Question of Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy      Ã‚   In the early twentieth century black American writers started employing modernist ways of argumentation to come up with possible answers to the race question. Two of the most outstanding figures of them on both, the literary and the political level, were Richard Wright, the "most important voice in black American literature for the first half of the twentieth century" (Norton, 548) and his contemporary Ralph Ellison, "one of the most footnoted writers in American literary history" (Norton, 700). In this paper I want to compare Wright's autobiography "Black Boy" with Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" and, in doing so, assess the effectiveness of their conclusions.    Both books have many striking parallels. Each tells the story of a young and intelligent picaresque character who goes through a painful odyssey of racism and prejudice during which he intellectually matures. Disappointed by institutions like family, church and political parties, mainly because they try to deprive them of their individuality by instrumentalizing and categorizing them, both protagonists grow more and more disillusioned. At the peak of their cynicism they eventually reject the American society as a whole. They now have only two logically consistent ways out of their dilemma: Flight or fight.    Ellison's protagonist chooses to take the first way. He believes that he can now finally see how society really works and he finds that in it he plays the role of an "invisible man". His invisibility is due to the fact that the other people are blind for the characteristics that distinguish him as an individual human being and instead apply to him the same stereotypes they associate with A... ...llison ends. His protagonist does not have to look for the individualism that the invisible man is always struggling for because he seems to have been born with it. Therefore his efforts are much more focused and constructive.    In conclusion I can say that I understand Ellison's point of view on the emotional level but that I have to give Wright right on the political level.    Works Cited: Berry, W. Abner. "Ralph Ellison's Novel 'Invisible Man' Show Snobbery, Contempt for Negro People." The Daily Worker: 8 Nov. 1999 <http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/berry-on-ellison.html>. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 2nd ed. New York: Vintage International, 1995. W. L. Andrews et al., ed. The Literature of the American South: A Norton Anthology. New York: Norton, 1998. 58 Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Harperpennial, 1993. Essay on Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy -- Invisible Man Essays The Question of Race in Invisible Man and Black Boy      Ã‚   In the early twentieth century black American writers started employing modernist ways of argumentation to come up with possible answers to the race question. Two of the most outstanding figures of them on both, the literary and the political level, were Richard Wright, the "most important voice in black American literature for the first half of the twentieth century" (Norton, 548) and his contemporary Ralph Ellison, "one of the most footnoted writers in American literary history" (Norton, 700). In this paper I want to compare Wright's autobiography "Black Boy" with Ellison's novel "Invisible Man" and, in doing so, assess the effectiveness of their conclusions.    Both books have many striking parallels. Each tells the story of a young and intelligent picaresque character who goes through a painful odyssey of racism and prejudice during which he intellectually matures. Disappointed by institutions like family, church and political parties, mainly because they try to deprive them of their individuality by instrumentalizing and categorizing them, both protagonists grow more and more disillusioned. At the peak of their cynicism they eventually reject the American society as a whole. They now have only two logically consistent ways out of their dilemma: Flight or fight.    Ellison's protagonist chooses to take the first way. He believes that he can now finally see how society really works and he finds that in it he plays the role of an "invisible man". His invisibility is due to the fact that the other people are blind for the characteristics that distinguish him as an individual human being and instead apply to him the same stereotypes they associate with A... ...llison ends. His protagonist does not have to look for the individualism that the invisible man is always struggling for because he seems to have been born with it. Therefore his efforts are much more focused and constructive.    In conclusion I can say that I understand Ellison's point of view on the emotional level but that I have to give Wright right on the political level.    Works Cited: Berry, W. Abner. "Ralph Ellison's Novel 'Invisible Man' Show Snobbery, Contempt for Negro People." The Daily Worker: 8 Nov. 1999 <http://www.english.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/berry-on-ellison.html>. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. 2nd ed. New York: Vintage International, 1995. W. L. Andrews et al., ed. The Literature of the American South: A Norton Anthology. New York: Norton, 1998. 58 Wright, Richard. Black Boy. New York: Harperpennial, 1993.