Police corruption in New York City Research Paper

Police corruption in New York City - Research Paper Example Introduction Police corruption is a type police misconduct through which police officers seeks personal advantage or gain like career advancement or money, through abusing power, e.g. accepting inducement or bribes in exchange for selectively pursuing or not pursuing and arrest or investigation. Accurate or precise information concerning the prevalence of corruption by police is not easy to come by because the corruption practices happen in private and secrets, in addition, police departments have very little incentive to publish corruption information. Researchers as well as police officials have argued that in most state police departments, large scale police corruption not only prevail, but have also been institutionalized. Some of the general police corruption acts prevalent in police state departments include: corruption of authorities, kickbacks, opportunistic thefts, shakedowns, protection of illegal activity, fixing, direct criminal activities, internal payoffs, police hazing, frameup, an d ticket fixing among others. New York is one state where police corruption has been noted in masses, and therefore this paper seeks to discuss the police corruption in New York City. Examples of police corruption activities and event in New York City include: NYPD subway sodomy scandal; kidnapping, robbery and torture of drug dealer; NYPD Muslim surveillance controversy; NYPD rape cops scandal; the 2011 ticket fixing scandal; Tompkins Square Park riot; Mafia cops; and various shooting and arrests among others (Hopson 12). Corruption incidences in New York City Since the founding of New York Police Department in 1844, scandals of corruption have warranted investigations by commissions about every twenty years right at the beginning by the 1894 Lexow Committee, the 1914 Curran Committee, the 1932 Seabury Commission, the 1949 Helfand Commission, the 1970 Knapp Commission, and the 1993 Mollen Commission. Almost until 1980's, police corruption often involved some form of extortion or vi ce consisting of payments to officers in order to escape arrest or prosecution for a crime or a violation. In the early 1970s and late 1960's, narcotic police corruption emerged. Police officers discovered that the small amounts of money relatively obtained from the shakedown were almost nothing in comparison to the hundreds and thousands of dollars obtained from narcotics shakedowns. In practice, the large amounts of money temptation available from drug trafficking is a major challenge facing the New York Police Department and the New York City entirely. This has prompted numerous discoveries of possible solutions to the predicament: having more supervisory positions within the police department would increase the oversight of subordinate officers; hiring procedures and practices with ability to screen out all but the best police candidates maximize the pool of police officers with good conduct and character; higher salaries for police officers would reduce the attraction to drug m oney; and increased external and internal police monitoring would increase the awareness of the tempted police officers of the likelihood of detecting corrupt behavior and severely punished. However, the police corruption acts are still witnessed and detected in New York City (Lawrence 14). New York Police officers have experienced allegations of taking bribes recently in order to help family and friends get out of traffic and parking violations by losing their paperwork. For reasons of various police corruption cases that arise, NYPD has reallocated into police department, lawyers responsible for trials against New York police officers. The over 400 police officers indicted in these allegations apparently accused of throwing away summons paperwork in order to prevent tickets from ending up at the adjudicating agencies. The paperwork often vanishes mysteriously over night shifts before processing, which kills the trail of the ticket. In some cases, documents are changed in order to reflect

Discuss and draw comparsions between the common themes in 'South Coursework

Discuss and draw comparsions between the common themes in 'South Downs' and 'The Browning Version' - Coursework Example He detects failure in his career. Due to his deteriorating health, Andrew resigns with not much to show. Not even his students or his colleagues were grateful for his dedicated service. Jean Kent takes the role of Millie, (Andrew’s wife) and it is evident that their marriage is at the edge. Millie is going out with a chemistry teacher, and she does not have the dignity to hide her infidelity from her husband. Millie’s new hook is known as Frank Hunter, a character well brought out by Nigel Patrick. Millie is breaking up with Andrew because he is unromantic. Taplow, a student at Andrew work place is highly sensitive, and this makes him break into Andrew’s confidential British exterior. 1The student offers Andrew an Agamemnon translation which makes him to breakdown with emotions. During the graduation ceremony, Andrew surprises everybody by giving an emotional speech. He mainly apologizes for letting people around him down. Andrew feels belittled by his wife who r idicules him. Adding salt to injury, his students keep on making fun of him. The school betrays him too even though he had been working for it faithfully. He has to accept the fact that nobody loves him and should see himself as other people think of him. He also has to accept that he is a failure due to the loss of his marriage, job and health. When Taplow presents him the Agamemnon play, he realizes he was insufficient in his work. His school denied him a pension after he retired and even his final speech was almost denied by his headmaster (Andrew Woodall). Andrew is devastated when he learns his nick name â€Å"the Himmler of the lower fifth†. He still keeps his head high and is composed even though he knows that he is dying inside with insults and rejection. 2He accepts his position as the society places him but keeps his dignity as a gentleman and an outstanding teacher proficient in English. Summary of South Downs Hare is smart in developing a play which has been inspi red by a classic done by Terrence Rattigan. Most of The David Hare's works have been rated as intellectual. Although South Downs was tremendously inspired by Terrence, most of David’s life was characterized by sadness when he was still at a school going age. Blakemore as a character in South Down clearly narrates how his life was. Blakemore is only 14 years, intelligent and understands the pope’s poetry. The school setting in South Downs is the same as the one in browning version. Blakemore is a delightful boy that is earnest, and lonely. He is highly suspected by other boys. Among the few friends he has one of their mothers offers Blakemore tea, cake and advice. She shows him sympathy and with this, Blakemore (Alex Lawther) eases up. John Blakemore has a distinctive character and personality. He is afraid of nuclear bombs and wants to be given permission to wear a badge that is against the bombs at school. His father being a sailor, they are not financially establishe d, and they live in a semidetached house. He is currently in school because of a scholarship. All the other boys can afford a decent life since they come from well to do families. Because he comes from such an environment, he is curious to understand his new environment and this makes him be counted as an odd one out. His current world (school) is full of showing off and

Channels for Specific Audinece Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Channels for Specific Audinece - Essay Example In addition, 33.1% of all households were composed of individuals living alone, of which 6.2% was someone 65 years of age or older. The average household size in Raleigh was 2.30 persons, and the average family size was 2.97 persons. Raleighs population in 2000 was evenly distributed with 20.9% below the age of 18, 15.9% aged 18 to 24, 36.6% from 25 to 44, and 18.4% from 45 to 64. An estimated 8.3% of the population was 65 years of age or older, and the median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males; for every 100 females aged 18 or older, there were 96.6 males aged 18 or older.† (http://www.wikipedia.com). 1. Renters. There are no specific data about the population profile of renters. According to statistics renters have less annual income than home owners. The media chosen for renters are newspapers and more specifically the â€Å" News & Observer† which is the largest daily newspaper of Raleigh, â€Å"Carolina† which is a monthly newspaper distributed for free so it can reach a large audience and â€Å"Triangle Tribune† in order to reach the Afro-American community. The internet will also be used as media channel for renters and more specifically it will be the New Raleigh which focuses on night life, restaurants etc. TV will be also included and more specifically the WUNC-TV because it shows the popular EastEnders comedy on Sunday nights – a day that most people stay at home because Monday is a working day. 2. Women who are owners of small business. The restaurant will use newspapers for reaching this target group and more specifically all the free newspapers like Independent Weekly, Carolina Journal and The Slammer. Free newspapers have the advantage that they are distributed to areas where lots of people gather i.e. subways etc. The Slammer has the advantage that is available at local

Discuss and draw comparsions between the common themes in 'South Coursework

Discuss and draw comparsions between the common themes in 'South Downs' and 'The Browning Version' - Coursework Example He detects failure in his career. Due to his deteriorating health, Andrew resigns with not much to show. Not even his students or his colleagues were grateful for his dedicated service. Jean Kent takes the role of Millie, (Andrew’s wife) and it is evident that their marriage is at the edge. Millie is going out with a chemistry teacher, and she does not have the dignity to hide her infidelity from her husband. Millie’s new hook is known as Frank Hunter, a character well brought out by Nigel Patrick. Millie is breaking up with Andrew because he is unromantic. Taplow, a student at Andrew work place is highly sensitive, and this makes him break into Andrew’s confidential British exterior. 1The student offers Andrew an Agamemnon translation which makes him to breakdown with emotions. During the graduation ceremony, Andrew surprises everybody by giving an emotional speech. He mainly apologizes for letting people around him down. Andrew feels belittled by his wife who r idicules him. Adding salt to injury, his students keep on making fun of him. The school betrays him too even though he had been working for it faithfully. He has to accept the fact that nobody loves him and should see himself as other people think of him. He also has to accept that he is a failure due to the loss of his marriage, job and health. When Taplow presents him the Agamemnon play, he realizes he was insufficient in his work. His school denied him a pension after he retired and even his final speech was almost denied by his headmaster (Andrew Woodall). Andrew is devastated when he learns his nick name â€Å"the Himmler of the lower fifth†. He still keeps his head high and is composed even though he knows that he is dying inside with insults and rejection. 2He accepts his position as the society places him but keeps his dignity as a gentleman and an outstanding teacher proficient in English. Summary of South Downs Hare is smart in developing a play which has been inspi red by a classic done by Terrence Rattigan. Most of The David Hare's works have been rated as intellectual. Although South Downs was tremendously inspired by Terrence, most of David’s life was characterized by sadness when he was still at a school going age. Blakemore as a character in South Down clearly narrates how his life was. Blakemore is only 14 years, intelligent and understands the pope’s poetry. The school setting in South Downs is the same as the one in browning version. Blakemore is a delightful boy that is earnest, and lonely. He is highly suspected by other boys. Among the few friends he has one of their mothers offers Blakemore tea, cake and advice. She shows him sympathy and with this, Blakemore (Alex Lawther) eases up. John Blakemore has a distinctive character and personality. He is afraid of nuclear bombs and wants to be given permission to wear a badge that is against the bombs at school. His father being a sailor, they are not financially establishe d, and they live in a semidetached house. He is currently in school because of a scholarship. All the other boys can afford a decent life since they come from well to do families. Because he comes from such an environment, he is curious to understand his new environment and this makes him be counted as an odd one out. His current world (school) is full of showing off and

Recreation and Sports Essay Example for Free

Recreation and Sports Essay While it may be true that the Mason City government ought to devote more money to riverside recreational facilities, this authors argument does not make a cogent case for increased resources based on river use. It is easy to understand why city residents would want a cleaner river, but this argument is rife with holes and assumptions, and thus, not strong enough to lead to increased funding. Citing surveys of city residents, the author reports city residents love of water sports. It is not clear, however, the scope and validity of that survey. For example, the survey could have asked residents if they prefer using the river for water sports or would like to see a hydroelectric dam built, which may have swayed residents toward river sports. The sample may not have been representative of city residents, asking only those residents who live upon the river. The survey may have been 10 pages long, with 2 questions dedicated to river sports. We just do not know. Unless the survey is fully representative, valid, and reliable, it can not be used to effectively back the authors argument. Additionally, the author implies that residents do not use the river for swimming, boating, and fishing, despite their professed interest, because the water is polluted and smelly. While a polluted, smelly river would likely cut down on river sports, a concrete connection between the residents lack of river use and the rivers current state is not effectively made. Though there have been complaints, we do not know if there have been numerous complaints from a wide range of people, or perhaps from one or two individuals who made numerous complaints. To strengthen his/her argument, the author would benefit from implementing a normed survey asking a wide range of residents why they do not currently use the river. Building upon the implication that residents do not use the river due to the quality of the rivers water and the smell, the author suggests that a river clean up will result in increased river usage. If the rivers water quality and smell result from problems which can be cleaned, this may be true. For example, if the decreased water quality and aroma is caused by pollution by factories along the river, this conceivably could be remedied. But if the quality and aroma results from the natural mineral deposits in the water or surrounding rock, this may not be true. There are some bodies of water which emit a strong smell of sulphur due to the geography of the area. This is not something likely to be afffected by a clean-up. Consequently, a river clean up may have no impact upon river usage. Regardless of whether the rivers quality is able to be improved or not, the author does not effectively show a connection between water quality and river usage. A clean, beautiful, safe river often adds to a citys property values, leads to increased tourism and revenue from those who come to take advantage of the river, and a better overall quality of life for residents. For these reasons, city government may decide to invest in improving riverside recreational facilities. However, this authors argument is not likely significantly persuade the city goverment to allocate increased funding. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 6 This insightful response identifies important assumptions and thoroughly examines their implications. The proposal to spend more on riverside recreational facilities rests on three questionable assumptions, namely: †¢THAT THE SURVEY PROVIDES A RELIABLE BASIS FOR BUDGET PLANNING †¢THAT THE RIVER’S POLLUTION AND ODOR ARE THE ONLY REASONS FOR ITS LIMITED RECREATIONAL USE. †¢THAT EFFORTS TO CLEAN THE WATER AND REMOVE THE ODOR WILL BE SUCCESSFUL By showing that each assumption is highly suspect, this essay demonstrates the weakness of the entire argument. For example, paragraph 2 points out that the survey might not have used a representative sample, might have offered limited choices, and might have contained very few questions on water sports. Paragraph 3 examines the tenuous connection between complaints and limited use of the river for recreation. Complaints about water quality and odor may be coming from only a few people and, even if such complaints are numerous, other completely different factors may be much more significant in reducing river usage. Finally, paragraph 4 explains that certain geologic features may prevent effective river clean-up. Details such as these provide compelling support. In addition, careful organization ensures that each new point builds upon the previous ones. For example, note the clear transitions at the beginning of paragraphs 3 and 4, as well as the logical sequence of sentences within paragraphs (specifically paragraph 4). Although this essay does contain minor errors, it still conveys ideas fluently. Note the effective word choices (e. g. , rife with . . . assumptions and may have swayed residents). In addition, sentences are not merely varied; they also display skillful embedding of subordinate elements. For example, note the sustained parallelism in the first sentence of the concluding paragraph. Since this response offers cogent examination of the argument and conveys meaning skillfully, it earns a score of 6. Essay Response — Score 5 The author of this proposal to increase the budget for Mason City riverside recreational facilities offers aninteresting argument but to move forward on the proposal would definitely   require more information and thought. While the correlations stated are logical and probable, there may be hidden factors that prevent the City from diverting resources to this project. For example, consider the survey rankings among Mason City residents. The thought is that such high regard for water sports will translate into usage. But, survey responses can hardly be used as indicators of actual behavior. Many surveys conducted after the winter holidays reveal people who list exercise and weight loss as a top priority. Yet every profession does not equal a new gym membership. Even the wording of the survey results remain ambiguous and vague. While water sports may be among the residents favorite activities, this allows for many other favorites. What remains unknown is the priorities of the general public. Do they favor these water sports above a softball field or soccer field? Are they willing to sacrifice the municipal golf course for better riverside facilities? Indeed the survey hardly provides enough information to discern future use of improved facilities. Closely linked to the surveys is the bold assumption that a cleaner river will result in increased usage. While it is not illogical to expect some increase, at what level will people begin to use the river? The answer to this question requires a survey to find out the reasons our residents use or do not use the river. Is river water quality the primary limiting factor to usage or the lack of docks and piers? Are people more interested in water sports than the recreational activities that they are already engaged in? These questions will help the city government forecast how much river usage will increase and to assign a proportional increase to the budget. Likewise, the author is optimistic regarding the state promise to clean the river. We need to hear the source of the voices and consider any ulterior motives. Is this a campaign year and the plans a campaign promise from the state representative? What is the timeline for the clean-up effort? Will the state fully fund this project? We can imagine the misuse of funds in renovating the riverside facilities only to watch the new buildings fall into dilapidation while the state drags the river clean-up. Last, the author does not consider where these additional funds will be diverted from. The current budget situation must be assessed to determine if this increase can be afforded. In a sense, the City may not be willing to draw money away from other key projects from road improvements to schools and education. The author naively assumes that the money can simply appear without forethought on where it will come from. Examining all the various angles and factors involved with improving riverside recreational facilities, the argument does not justify increasing the budget. While the proposal does highlight a possibility, more information is required to warrant any action. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 5 Each paragraph in the body of this perceptive essay identifies and examines an unstated assumption that is crucial to the argument. The major assumptions discussed are: †¢THAT A SURVEY CAN ACCURATELY PREDICT BEHAVIOR †¢THAT CLEANING THE RIVER WILL, IN ITSELF, INCREASE RECREATIONAL USAGE †¢THAT STATE PLANS TO CLEAN THE RIVER WILL ACTUALLY BE REALIZED †¢THAT MASON CITY CAN AFFORD TO SPEND MORE ON RIVERSIDE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. Support within each paragraph is both thoughtful and thorough. For example, paragraph 2 points out vagueness in the wording of the survey: Even if water sports rank among the favorite recreational activities of Mason City residents, other sports may still be much more popular. Thus, if the first assumption proves unwarranted, the argument to fund riverside facilities — rather than soccer fields or golf courses — becomes much weaker. Paragraph 4 considers several reasons why river clean-up plans may not be successful (the plans may be nothing more than campaign promises or funding may not be adequate). Thus, the weakness of the third assumption undermines the argument that river recreation will increase and riverside improvements will be needed at all. Instead of dismissing each assumption in isolation, this response places them in a logical order and considers their connections. Note the appropriate transitions between and within paragraphs, clarifying the links among the assumptions (e. g. , Closely linked to the surveys †¦ or The answer to this question requires ). Along with strong development, this response also displays facility with language. Minor errors in punctuation are present, but word choices are apt and sentences suitably varied in pattern and length. The response uses a number of rhetorical questions, but the implied answers are always clear enough to support the points being made. Thus, the response satisfies all requirements for a score of 5, but its development is not thorough or compelling enough for a 6. Essay Response — Score 4 The problem with the arguement is the assumption that if the Mason River were cleaned up, that people would use it for water sports and recreation. This is not necessarily true, as people may rank water sports among their favorite recreational activities, but that does not mean that those same people have the financial ability, time or equipment to pursue those interests. However, even if the writer of the arguement is correct in assuming that the Mason River will be used more by the citys residents, the arguement does not say why the recreational facilities need more money. If recreational facilities already exist along the Mason River, why should the city allot more money to fund them? If the recreational facilities already in existence will be used more in the coming years, then they will be making more money for themselves, eliminating the need for the city government to devote more money to them. According to the arguement, the reason people are not using the Mason River for water sports is because of the smell and the quality of water, not because the recreational facilities are unacceptable. If the city government alloted more money to the recreational facilities, then the budget is being cut from some other important city project. Also, if the assumptions proved unwarranted, and more people did not use the river for recreation, then much money has been wasted, not only the money for the recreational facilities, but also the money that was used to clean up the river to attract more people in the first place. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 4 This competent response identifies two unstated assumptions: †¢THAT CLEANING UP THE MASON RIVER WILL LEAD TO INCREASED RECREATIONAL USE †¢THAT EXISTING FACILITIES ALONG THE RIVER NEED MORE FUNDING Paragraph 1 offers reasons why the first assumption is questionable (e. g. , residents may not have the necessary time or money for water sports). Similarly, paragraphs 2 and 3 explain that riverside recreational facilities may already be adequate and may, in fact, produce additional income if usage increases. Thus, the response is adequately developed and satisfactorily organized to show how the argument depends on questionable assumptions. However, this essay does not rise to a score of 5 because it fails to consider several other unstated assumptions (e. g. , that the survey is reliable or that the efforts to clean the river will be successful). Furthermore, the final paragraph makes some extraneous, unsupported assertions of its own. Mason City may actually have a budget surplus so that cuts to other projects will not be necessary, and cleaning the river may provide other real benefits even if it is not used more for water sports. This response is generally free of errors in grammar and usage and displays sufficient control of language to support a score of 4. Essay Response — Score 3 Surveys are created to speak for the people; however, surveys do not always speak for the whole community. A survey completed by Mason City residents concluded that the residents enjoy water sports as a form of recreation. If that is so evident, why has the river not been used? The blame can not be soley be placed on the city park department. The city park department can only do as much as they observe. The real issue is not the residents use of the river, but their desire for a more pleasant smell and a more pleasant sight. If the city government cleans the river, it might take years for the smell to go away. If the budget is changed to accomodate the clean up of the Mason River, other problems will arise. The residents will then begin to complain about other issues in their city that will be ignored because of the great emphasis being placed on Mason River. If more money is taken out of the budget to clean the river an assumption can be made. This assumption is that the budget for another part of cit maintenance or building will be tapped into to. In addition, to the budget being used to clean up Mason River, it will also be allocated in increasing riverside recreational facilites. The government is trying to appease its residents, and one can warrant that the role of the government is to please the people. There are many assumptions being made; however, the government can not make the assumption that people want the river to be cleaned so that they can use it for recreational water activities. The government has to realize the long term effects that their decision will have on the monetary value of their budget. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 3 Even though much of this essay is tangential, it offers some relevant examination of the argument’s assumptions. The early sentences mention a questionable assumption (that the survey results are reliable) but do not explain how the survey might have been flawed. Then the response drifts to irrelevant matters — a defense of the city park department, a prediction of budget problems and the problem of pleasing city residents. Some statements even introduce unwarranted assumptions that are not part of the original argument (e. g. ,The residents will then begin to complain about other issues and This assumption is that the budget for another part of city maintenance or building will be tapped into). Near the end, the response does correctly note that city government should not assume that residents want to use the river for recreation. Hence, the proposal to increase funding for riverside recreational facilities may not be justified. In summary, the language in this response is reasonably clear, but its examination of unstated assumptions remains limited and therefore earns a score of 3. Essay Response — Score 2. This statement looks like logical, but there are some wrong sentences in it which is not logical. First, this statement mentions raking water sports as their favorite recreational activities at the first sentence. However, it seems to have a ralation between the first sentence and the setence which mentions that increase the quality of the rivers water and the rivers smell. This is a wrong cause and result to solve the problem. Second, as a reponse to the complaints from residents, the state plan to clean up the river. As a result, the state expects that water sports will increase. When you look at two sentences, the result is not appropriate for the cause. Third, the last statement is the conclusion. However, even though residents rank water sports, the city government might devote the budget to another issue. This statement is also a wrong cause and result. In summary, the statement is not logical because there are some errors in it. The supporting setences are not strong enough to support this issue. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 2 Although this essay appears to be carefully organized, it does not follow the directions for the assigned task. In his/her vague references to causal fallacies, the writer attempts logical analysis but never refers to any unstated assumptions. Furthermore, several errors in grammar and sentence structure interfere with meaning (e. g. , This statement looks like logical, but there are some wrong sentences in it which is not logical). Because this response does not follow the directions for the assigned task and contains errors in sentence structure and logical development, it earns a score of 2. Essay Response — Score 1 The statement assumes that everyone in Mason City enjoys some sort of recreational activity, which may not be necessarily true. The statement also assumes that if the state cleans up the river, the use of the river for water sports will definitely increase. Reader Commentary for Essay Response — Score 1 The brevity of this two-sentence response makes it fundamentally deficient. Sentence 1 states an assumption that is actually not present in the argument, and sentence 2 correctly states an assumption but provides no discussion of its implications. Although the response may begin to address the assigned task, it offers no development. As such, it is clearly extremely brief providing little evidence of an organized response and should earn a score of 1.

Paper On Elements Of Satire In Gullivers Travels

Paper On Elements Of Satire In Gullivers Travels Satire can be used in many different forms for writers to express themselves. Satire is used by writers in all types of literature to communicate with their readers. More importantly satire allows writers to send their readers messages in a very indirect way. This means writers can express themselves without being prosecuted. This makes satire an incredibly powerful tool because it allows writers to expose corruption, oppression, and lies that many people end up believing. Gulliver first goes to the island of Lilliput where he is shipwrecked and wakes up tied down to the ground. Hes been tied down by the tiny natives called Lilliputians. The Lilliputians are an extremely petty people which would put people to death for fraud or ingratitude. They are also an extremely corrupt society, for example they use rope dancing as a way to get and hold public office. With Lilliputians, Gulliver has to watch his back and take into consideration that they may be plotting against them. The Lilliputians pettiness can clearly be seen in their argument over the correct end of an egg to break with Big-Endians who actually protest to the death against the emperors order that all shall break the egg at its small end. The Lilliputians are also at war with the Blefuscudians and the emperor tells Gulliver to intervene in order to end the war. He does, but the emperor then tells him to destroy all their ships so that they can enslave the Blefuscudians. Gulliver refuses and hi s luck with the Lilliputians starts taking a turn for the worst. A fire breaks out one night and Gulliver puts it out by peeing on it. This incident combined with rumors that he hit on the emperors wife and that he was a traitor in leagues with the Blefuscudians get the emperor to turn on him. The emperor plans to have Gulliver blinded, however Gulliver finds out and escapes. Eventually Gulliver gets home to have another adventure later on. These little people represent much more than just some imaginary characters created by Swift. They are actually a representation of the bureaucracy and political polices OF Swifts time. Swift is pointing out how petty and corrupt those in power actually are. Swift uses their size as a metaphor to show how small politicians are morally. He is trying to show how pathetic, greedy, and self-centered their deeds are. By showing how they plot behind closed doors in secret hes also criticizing the political system which allows politicians to do that and make pacts that are in their best interest instead of the peoples. In addition, he also exposes the coldness of politics, like the coldness of the proposer in A Modest Proposal. The emperor had no problem killing and enslaving a city of people. Swift is merely showing that is also happens in real life through satire. Next Gulliver travels to Brobdingnag where he finds that giants are the natives of this land. Gulliver is found by a farmer and stays with him until the queen of the country buys Gulliver from him and gives Gulliver to the king as a present. Gulliver spends time with the royal family learning their language and their culture. Gulliver also has several incidents while in this country that start giving him a negative attitude of the country. One day Gulliver tells the king about Englands history, however the king is disgusted with Gullivers account of Englands history. According to DeGategno the enlightened King responds to Gullivers description of European hypocrisy, avarice, and hatred, and memorably declares the bulk of your natives, to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth (DeGategno). Gulliver doesnt like the kings reaction and starts thinking he might be reacting like that because he is less educated than him. Gulliver tries to repair his image with the king by telling him about gunpowder and how England uses it to solve conflicts and win wars. However, this completely backfires on Gulliver instead of being intrigued the king is disguised with this violence. He says that he is amazed that such an impotent and groveling insect as Gulliver could entertain such inhuman ideas and threatens Gulliver with death if he ever mentions gunpowder again. After this Gulliver doesnt try to change the kings mind about how he feels about England. However, he does start to look down on aspects of the Brobdingnagian society such as their education, laws, books, language, and military. He concludes that their education, law, and society as a whole is inferior to that of England. Eventually Gulliver starts becoming home sick and wishes to be around people that are as smart as he is. Luckily for him one day a bird picks up the box that he is carried in and drops it in the sea. Though Gulliver almost drowns he does manage to escape and is eventually rescued by some sailors. The sailors take him back home. However, Gulliver doesnt stay in England for too long in fact in another couple days Gulliver sets sail again and goes on another adventure. Brobdingnag was the exact opposite of Lilliput. In Lilliput Gulliver is surround by evil, but in Brobdingnag he is evil. This can be seen by the kings reaction tp Gullivers description of European history and how Gullivers feelings change during his stay. Gulliver starts looking down on Brobdingnagians in a way thats almost Lilliputian. It seems that he doesnt like being criticized and adding that he already feels inferior to Brobdingnagians due to their size differences he starts protecting his esteem; so he strikes back like a Lilliputian. This is yet another way Swift is using satire to communicate with the reader. Swift doesnt just use the characters that Gulliver meets, but every tool he has available. I believe DeGategnos word are very relevant to this when he says that Swift seeks nothing less than his readers participation in a thoroughgoing physical, intellectual, political, and moral analysis of mankinds condition (DeGategno). After setting sail, as a surgeon, Gullivers ship is captured by pirates, however they let Gulliver go in a small canoe and eventually he ends up in Laputa, which is actually an island that floats in the sky. Laputa is very different from Brobdingnag and Lilliput in that there are many different types of people. Brobdingnag had giants and Lilliput had tiny people and each had their own lesson, yet Laputa is filled with different types of people and has several different lessons. I cant help but believe that Swift named the first city that Gulliver travels to Laputa as a way to describe the events that were to come. I say this because in Spanish Laputa actually means the bitch. Gulliver sees that the inhabitants of Laputa are a very strange people. Since they are constantly thinking about math and music they actually have servants called Flappers that remind them when to listen and when to talk. They also constantly worry about things like the sun dropping out of the sky. This causes many women in Laputa to commit adultery since most of their husbands are lost in their own thoughts. Gulliver then travels to Lagado where he meets Lord Munodi who acts as a guide for him. Munodi takes Gulliver to go see the Academy of Lagado where he meets a group of professors that are involved with some extremely ridiculous experiments. Gulliver sees that theyre trying to extract sunbeams from cucumbers, turn human excrement back into its original food, transform ice into gunpowder, and build houses from the roof down. Three professors were developing a strategy for improving the language of their country by eliminating all words except nouns or eliminating all words and having people carry around all the objects they need to express themselves. Another professor which is responsible for public affairs tries to cure diseases and corruptions of public officials with the same prescriptions used for curing diseases of the body. The same professor also says that citizens should inflict physical pain upon public officials until what they want is granted or absolutely refused. The professor goes on to say that Senators should vote the exact opposite of their opinion since it would be in the publics best interest. Lastly he says that if political parties cant come to an agreement they should take a hundred leaders of each party, cut their brains in half, and have all the leaders trade one half with one of their opponents. His rationale for this plan is that when the two half-brains are left to debate the matter between themselves in the same head theyll eventually reach an agreement. Gulliver actually has a positive reaction to the professors proposals and seems to think they may be able to actually work. Though, he may just want t o see the politicians killed off. After visiting the academy Gulliver starts wanting get back to England and go back home, so he goes to Maldonada in order to find passage to Luggangg from which he can get to Japan and finally back to England. He discovers that no ships will set sail to Luggangg for a month, so Gulliver decides to visit an island thats close by named Glubbdubdrib. The inhabitants of Glubbdubdrib are sorcerers, and their Governor is capable of calling spirits back from the dead. Once he arrives Gulliver decides to ask the Governor to summon ancients who were most renowned for being intellectuals. He first meets Homer and Aristotle and all of their commentators. He discovers that in the underworld, these modern commentators avoid the ancient philosophers because of the shame they feel at having so grossly misrepresented their work. Gulliver also has Descartes and Gassendi brought back to life to explain their principal theories to Aristotle. However, Aristotle isnt impressed; he dismisses their theories and actually compares them to being like fads in fashion. It seems that as the scholars become more recent the less intellectual they actually are. Gulliver concludes that the world has been misled by histori ans who give qualities such as bravery, virtue, piety, and honor to those who were only cowards and scoundrels. Afterwards, Gulliver returns to Maldonada and leaves to Luggnagg. Once Gulliver arrives at Luggnagg he is detained by a custom-house officer because he is a stranger. Gulliver is then transported to Traldragdubb where he visits the King of Luggnagg. When he arrives in the throne room, he has to crawl on his belly and lick the floor as he goes until he comes within four yards of the throne, then he raises himself up on his knees and bangs his forehead on the ground several times. This is how Luggnaggians approach their king. The king is kind to Gulliver and gives him housing, gold, and a pass to Japan. Before Gulliver leaves he hears about a group of people called Struldbrugs who are immortal. Clear, Swift is criticizing social codes imposed by royalty. Gulliver then decides to learn more about these people and pay them a visit. Gulliver imagined that the Struldbrugs lived a wonderful life where they never grew old, however he could not have been more wrong. The Struldbrugs actual do age, they just dont die. This turns out to be a nightmare for the Struldbrugs because once they pass the age of eighty they basically live in absolute misery. The Struldbrugs are hated by society and are denied the deaths they so badly want as their bodies and minds continue to age and decay. When Gulliver finally meets some Struldbrugs he is disgusted by them and completely changes his mind about how he felt about immortality. Afterwards, Gulliver returns to Luggnagg and from there goes to Japan. From Japan Gulliver eventually makes his way home to England where he is reunited with his family. The adventure to Laputa, Lagado, Glubbdubdrib, and Luggnagg has a couple different lessons that Swift is telling the reader. The first one in Laputa, he is criticizing people like Pangloss in Candide. In Laputa they rely solely on reasoning to the point that their reasoning is corrupted and has no reason at all. According to Brackett, Swift satirizes the Royal Academy in a depiction of an academy at nearby Lagado where members attempt absurd acts (Brackett). I believe that it is also criticizing peoples reliance on technology. I also think this point may be more relevant today that it was during Swifts time. The sorcerers are used to show how backward humanity is becoming. All of the scholars of the ancient were actual intellectuals, however the most recent ones were simply people who got lucky and become famous in history; they didnt possess any superior intellect. Swift also makes it a point to say that people recorded in recent history many times are not what they seem. Getting re corded in history seems to be more like survival of the fittest than who actually deserves it. Finally, the Struldbrugs are to teach people that immortality is not all that its cracked up to be, eventually everyone would get tired of life and would want to rest in peace. After being home for five months Gulliver embarks on another adventure as a captain of a ship. To no surprise the trip is plagued by tragedies. First his crewmen start dying of distemper and when he hires men to replace them they mutiny against him. The crew then leaves Gulliver on a longboat near a beach. Gulliver lands on the beach and starts exploring the land in hope of finding some people. He finally finds some creatures that he has never seen before. After watching them for a bit Gulliver believes that these are the most disgusting creatures hes ever seen. One of the creatures, which are called Yahoos, approaches Gulliver and he hits it away from him. This causes the Yahoo to yell which attracts more Yahoos. They then attack Gulliver by climbing in trees and defecating on him. Then a horse appears and the Yahoos run away in fear. The horse, which is a Houyhnhnm, looks at Gulliver as if studying him and looks disgusted when Gulliver touches him. The horse takes Gulliver to a large building. Gulliver starts calling the horse he meet the master horse because he seems to have authority over the other horses. They then meet up with another horse and the horses take Gulliver to a courtyard where they bring a Yahoo and have it stand next to Gulliver. Gulliver first realizes that the Yahoos are actually humans and hes completely horrified, then he realizes that the horses are actually comparing him to the Yahoo and is horrified even farther. Gulliver then tries to make a point to distinguish himself from the Yahoos for the Houyhnhnms. The Houyhnhnms teach Gulliver their language and Gulliver starts trying to convince them that hes not a Yahoo. Gulliver tells the master horse the story of how he got to the Houyhnhnms, but the master says his story is the thing which was not. The master is implying that he is lying, but since all Houyhnhnms always speak the truth their language does not have a word for lying. The Houyhnhnm master asks Gulliver more questions about his past. Gulliver tells the master that in his world people are the masters and horses are the beast. The master cant believe what he hears and replies that it isnt possible for a Yahoo to be master over a Houyhnhnm because they are superior both physical and intellectually The master tries to understand humanity more through Gulliver and so they have many conversations. In these many conversations Gulliver goes over topics such as poverty, ambition, crime, envy, oppressions, lust, law and politics. He also informs the master of Englands history and the master says that he has a good idea of what human nature is capable of. At one point the master again points out the physical weakness of Yahoos to Gulliver and Gulliver decides to tell him about gun powder. The master is appalled by what Gulliver tells him and orders Gulliver to be silent. The master then says that Yahoos who pretend to have reason are far more detestable than those who do not because it isnt really reason that they have but something that increases their natural vices. After Gulliver spends three years with the Houyhnhnms he becomes very attached to them. He believes that they are pure and innocent and starts losing his humanity in exchange to be more Houyhnhnm-like. He makes clothing out of Yahoo skin and whenever he starts missing his family or friends he merely thinks of them as Yahoos. Gulliver has found happiness among the Houyhnhnm, however one day his master tells him that he must leave. With the help of the masters servant Gulliver builds a boat and leaves. Gulliver doesnt go straight home because hes actually sick of humanity. He considers all humans Yahoos and wants nothing to do with humanity. Even when he finally gets home his own wife and kids disgust him. The story ends with Gulliver allowing his wife to have dinner with him and him talking about how everyone reminds him of a Yahoo. Swift is showing the two possibilities in human nature in the last portion of Gullivers Travels. One is that humans may choose to embrace their uncivilized animalistic nature, as did the Yahoos, and the other that they might reject all emotion to function only with logic, as did the Houyhnhnms. For example, the Yahoos throw their feces at each other and spend all day on the beach picking up shiny stuff. However, the Houyhnhnms find their behavior disgusting and illogical. The Yahoos throwing feces at each other represents how little respect humans have for each other. Them worshipping shiny stuff represents humanities obsession with objects that arent really as valuable as we make them to be. The Importance of Being Earnest is a very funny play that satirizes social roles and the customs of Oscar Wildes time. The satire is very light hearted because Wilde wrote it for the upper classes he was actually poking fun at. However, when we look at it day we can see how ridiculous many of their customs were and how petty the upper-class could be. The play starts off with a conversation about marriage between Algernon Moncrieff and his servant Lane. It also sets the tone for the play as Algernon concludes that Lanes views seem negligent and that Lanes class seems to have a lack of moral responsibility, here Wilde is using irony because it is in fact Algernons class that lacks moral responsibility. The play becomes satirical very fast as Jack Worthing admits that Earnest is an alter ego he pretends is his brother that often needs his help in the city and Algernon admits that he also has an alter ego named Bunbury, who often needs his help in the country. Wilde is using this to show how ridiculous their customs were and that for someone to get away somewhere and still be respectable in the eyes of society they had to make up another identity. The first scene also has Jack proposing to Gwendolen which she accepts, but her mom tells her she cant engage herself. Lady Bracknell then asks Jack some personal questions to see if he is suitable for Gwendolen. All seems fine until she realizes that he doesnt have parents, at this she finds him unacceptable and leaves. In this scene Wilde is criticizing the social code as petty and cruel. The irony becomes even more incredible when Algernon goes to Jacks house in the country saying that his name is Earnest and hes Jacks brother. Algernon introduces himself to Cecily, as Earnest, and very quickly the two fall in love. When Jack gets home and discovers that Algernon is posing as his imaginary brother, Earnest, he is furious and tells him to leave. However, Algernon doesnt and in fact he meets up with Cecily and proposes to her. She accepts and tells him that she loves him because his name is Earnest, which is ironic because its the same thing Gwendolen told Jack. Afterwards, Algernon contacts Dr. Chasuble to christen him so that he can change his name to Earnest, the irony here is that Jack has also done this. The story continues when Gwendolen comes to visit Jack, but since he isnt home Cecily meets with her until he comes back. They immediately like each other and agree to call each other by their first names. However, while they converse they learn that they both plan to marry Earnest even though Earnest doesnt really exist and they both plan on marrying two different people. After the girls start believing that they are in love with the same man they turn on each other and start calling each other by their proper titles. In this scene Wilde is exposing how petty the upper class is through Cecily and Gwendolen, at first they call each other by their first names and then revert to proper titles because of their argument. Jack finally comes home and finds the Cecily and Gwendolen having tea. Immediately Gwendolen asks him if hes engaged to Cecily. He denies the claim and Cecily tells Gwendolen that he is actually her guardian Mr. John Worthing. At this Algernon enters and Cecily says that he is the true Earnest. She then asks him if he is engaged to Gwendolen. He denies the claim, but Gwendolen says that his name is actually Algernon Moncrieff. The girls make up and after Jack tells them that there is no Earnest they both leave the house. The satire in this makes the play hilarious and is the reason why Wilde can get away with making fun of the upper class. The third and final act starts with Cecily and Gwendolen asking the Jack and Algernon why they lied. They both respond that is was necessary for them to see each other and Gwendolen and Cecily forgive them. However, Lady Bracknell enters and after seeing Gwendolen with Jack she wants to know whats going on. Gwendolen tells her that shes marrying Jack, but the Lady Bracknell stills refuses to allow it. For a comic effect she also asks Algernon if this is the home of Bunbury and Algernon tells her that Bunbury is dead. He then introduces her to Cecily and tells his aunt that theyre engaged. Lady Bracknell isnt sure she approves until she discovers that Cecily is wealthy. Jack then says that he wont allow Algernon to marry Cecily unless she allows Gwendolen to marry him; still Lady Bracknell refuses to consent. Afterwards Lady Bracknell discovers that Jack is her sisters lost son and that Jack is Algernons older brother. With this knowledge she consents to his marriage with Gwendolen. In this play we see not only the pettiness of upper class people through Lady Bracknell, but also their greed and shallowness through her immediate consent to Algernons marriage once she discovers that Cecily is rich. Wilde also uses marriage to criticize the aristocracy for corrupting a traditionally sacred ceremony into a financial contract that is based on wealth and status. In addition, Wilde is criticizing the leisure life style of the upper class. This entire play has absolutely no action and the drama is completely self created. He shows how far nobles lives are from regular peoples through characters like Lane and Dr. Chasuble, who actually have to work instead of fooling around in social drama. Satire also allows Wilde to criticize the rich and powerful without offending them by making the characters look absurd and unbelievable. As Virginia says the absurdity of the situations is made doubly absurd by the contrasted grace and dignity of everyones utterance (Brackett). The o utcome is a witty comedy that makes fun of the very people watching it! Truly, Wilde is a genius. The Man That Was Used Up starts with an unnamed narrator meeting the famous Brevet Brigadier General John A. B. C. Smith. He instantly falls in love with the Generals physical characteristics. He describes the General as having the head of hair that would have done honor to a Brutus and the handsomest pair of whiskers under the sun. The narrator is not only captured by Smiths physicals, but almost everything about him he says that he never heard a clearer nor a stronger voice and when he spoke to him he said the gallant soldier preferred topics of philosophical interest, meaning hes well educated. The narrator decides that he wants to learn more about the General, but with respect to the tremendous events which occurred during the Bugaboo and Kickapoo campaign, a time of war. The narrator asks around to find out more about the General, but he discovers that the only thing people ever talk about when it comes to the General is his accomplishments. They never seem want to talk about his personal life. They only talk about how great the General is and comment on the wonderfully inventive age. The narrator then starts getting suspicious and starts thinking that there might be something that people are hiding or at least not showing. He decides to visit the Generals home. When he enters he doesnt see anyone home or anything strange. However, he does observe a strange bundle of things on the floor. The narrator kicks the bundle in order to move it and discovers that the bundle can talk. The bundle turns out to be the General and the story begins to unwind. The General calls his servant and has him put him together piece by piece. At this time during the story the reader discovers the real General Smith. He is completely fake all his limbs need to be attached including his legs, arms, shoulders, eyes, teeth, and even his tongue. While the General is being assembled he actually recommends people to the narrator who can provide the best body parts for whatever part is needed. In this scene we not only see that the general is fake on the exterior but also on the inside, before the general was seen as an intellectual elite however while his servant is putting him together he goes now, you nigger, my teeth! this is completely unprecedented behavior from the General and its a glimpse at the real person that he is. The General is actually a lot like the officer in The Nose and Gregor Samsa from The Metamorphosis. He is like the officer from the Nose in that he is a public figure with authority, but is completely fake. His authority is derived completely from what people see him as. If he tried to hold a public position as a bundle of human skin he would be shunned. Peeples confirms this in hes writing when he says Smiths prosthetic body parts can be read as emblematic of the cultural icons exalted reputations: the story advances the notion that public figures are largely artificial creations (Peeples 25). The General is also like Gregor Samsa, in the way that if Gregor would have never had his metamorphosis he would have eventually ended up like the General. The General did not have a transformation so he stayed in the machine and was completely absorbed by it until he started becoming one. The worst part is that since there was no intervention for the general, like Gregors, he never saw how much damage he was actually doing to himself. In fact, he embraced it, according to Peeples, the man that was used up expresses no regrets at having being dismantled by savages, for his new parts seem to work better than those of mere mortals (Peeples, 25). This made the General become the man that was used up. This story may use many devices of absurd, but it makes its shocking points thanks to satire. The story builds up the image of the General through satire. The reader is able to see how highly regarded people like the General are in real life. The absurd is used to rip down the beautiful picture of the General as was previously painted, still this is a form of irony to show people that what they may worship may actually be much less than we they believe it to be. In conclusion satire can be used in many different forms for writers to express themselves. Because satire allows writers to send their readers messages in a very indirect ways, writers can express themselves without being prosecuted. As has been in Gullivers Travels, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Man That Was Used Up satire is an incredibly powerful tool because it allows writers to expose corruption, oppression, and lies that many people end up believing.

Psychology Of Television Essay -- essays research papers

Psychology of Television   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today many people think that television is the cause of violence in today’s youth. Many have pondered that television disturbs traditions as well as interferes with the minds of adolecened children who can not yet comprehend the truth of fiction and reality. Thus television has become a widely talked about controversy, mainly because of the fatal incidents that have been occurring during the past couple of years. Questions are being raised and people want answers. What kind of effects does the television have on human beings?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society the public is interested in the detailed information about the content of television. Persons who work in the media are often concerned with what the television portrays and why it portrays the way it does. Even though they know that their shows are representative to their viewers tastes and not that of the “real world.'; Although this information is not acknowledged as fiction or non-fiction it is still portrayed and processed information by the viewer. One must be able to realize, “How this information is different from everyday life?'; By mocking a family, situation, or community, distortions and biases occur on the television when these subjects are compared to “real life.'; Still unsure of these problems the majority of humans watch even when they don’t understand – why?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Television is a medium of novelty, with each new season bringing new shows with dreamier characters and more enticing situations. These shows are successful because they challenge one’s wisdom if he or she were in the same situation. This is the reason why people are starting to question and be afraid of the pushed boundaries of television. With the dramatic increase of violence in today’s world the programmers are filling ones mind of not wisdom, but the dark escape of violence which makes up the viewers mind for them. The definition of physical violence is stated as these two presented:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Any overt depiction of a credible threat of physical force or the actual use of such force intended to physically harm an animated being or group of beings. (National... ... which audience members are said to be “recruited';. Thus, the individual “learns to recognize itself in a series of subject positions...which are the positions from which discourse is intelligible to itself and others (Academic Press, 103). The viewer is not compelled to take a position even though there are different ones offered by the program. In either case it would seem that the logical effect remains within the discourse and does not translate directly to the viewer. The simple answer to the objection is that the reader will not be able to make sense of what he or she sees other than identifying with.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now that you know some of the ways that television programs can cloud your mind, try and be more observant when you or your little one is sitting in front of the television. You are watching more than “just some thing on TV.'; Television today is getting more violent and graphic, and that is not the worst of it. Programmers are playing with a young child’s mind – with my mind, and even with yours. People just don’t realize it, or they choose to ignore it, until something drastic happens.