Skin Deep :: Self Image Beauty Essays

Skin Deep We drove all the way down to New Jersey. We usually reserve NY/NJ trips for Korean grocery shopping and long weekends. It was a perfectly nice March day out—brisk, but sunny, with just enough warmth for a light jacket. This was my dad’s idea. I was pretty against the whole thing, but I decided to give it a try; it wouldn’t hurt to try, would it? Ever since I was young I have had scars on my face from a severe case of chicken pox. The doctors worried that my face would be scarred much worse than it is. They gave my parents two options—sand my skin down to create smooth skin which could potentially cause worse scars and redness in cold temperatures, or do nothing and hope that the scars would disappear over time. My parents, hoping for the best, went with the latter choice. And some 18 years later, my father questioned this decision. Dr. Grace Kim got her bachelor of science in biology from MIT in 1995. My father found her office advertisement in the Korean community newspaper. She shared her office in Inglewood, NJ with two other doctors whose degrees from prestigious universities hung like graffiti on the walls. The office was softly lit and had a sort of Zen themed feel to it with bamboo shoots, rocks, stone tables, all classily done. The magazines spread across the rock table tops were plastered with skinny young Korean girls with perfect chins and tiny frames. I could sound out the words on the cover: â€Å"ooh-manz sen-suh† or â€Å"Women’s Sense.† The door opened and my name was called. My scars never really bothered me. I can remember the few instances when someone had noticed them and asked about them. But having someone specifically appointed to sit, stare, examine, and evaluate what â€Å"your biggest problem areas are† is not the highest rung on the self-esteem ladder. There are some days I don’t even notice my scars; then again, there are days they seem to pop off my face eclipsing my otherwise clear complexion. Dr. Kim’s remedy for my scars was to cut the â€Å"more noticeable ones† using a very precise eyelet cut, stitch, then after healed, use laser technology to smooth the scarring from the stitches. Each eyelet cut would cost $200 and â€Å"with my condition† could cost over $2000. But before any services could be rendered, her exclusive line of skin emulsifying products must be used 6 weeks prior to surgery.

Celibacy and Catholic Priests Essay

In today’s world, many wonder why Catholic priests can’t get married and have a family of their own. This issue and question can be boiled down into one word: celibacy. Being celibate is defined as being â€Å"One who abstains from sexual intercourse, especially by reason of religious vows,† according to thefreedictionary.com. This definition is not understood by many because the thought of having a life without sex is unbearable, especially in today’s society. By exploring this topic in depth, one can understand why celibacy is an important factor of the Catholic priesthood. According to Father Kenneth Doyle of the Catholic News Service, priests hold this sacred vow for three particular reasons: it closely resembles Christ Who was unmarried, it shows and proves that love can be present without being physical, and it allows a man to give all of his energy to the Lord rather than to a family. In understanding how celibacy became so important, we have to look at its history, particularly at the third, fourth, eleventh, and sixteenth centuries, according to John O’Malley in his article Some Basics About Celibacy (8). In the third century, within the early Church, many priests and even most of the apostles of Jesus were men with wives and families. It was a common feature among the early Church, and even some of the Holy Fathers, or Popes, were known to be married and have children. It is clear that during this time period, the patristic era and early Middle Ages, celibacy was not enforced and not important within the Church. Early in this century, Constantine’s recognition of Christianity brought about status change for all Christians: because they were not being oppressed and martyred they looked for new ways to follow Christ and challenge themselves to give their lives for Him. John W. O’Malley writes, â€Å"With St. Jerome (345-420), as well as many others, virginity for those espoused to Christ began to be extolled with new fervor and consistency.† This became the building block for legislation and more teachings on the subject of celibacy (9). O’Malley points out that the fourth century brought about more change for Christians as they came out of hiding in the catacombs (9). The Council of Elvira was held in 305, which consisted of nineteen bishops as well as a number of priests, deacons, and laypeople. O’Malley writes that Canon 33 was a product of this council and that it was the first piece of legislation that dealt with the issue of the clergy and marriage. It reads: It has seemed good absolutely to forbid the bishops, the priests, and the deacons, i.e., all the clerics in the service of the ministry, to have relations with their wives and procreate children; should anyone do so, let him be excluded from the honor of the clergy. (9) This decree changed things, because it made a tradition into a law, and any who violated it would be punished. This decree was really meant to put continence or self-restraint on married clergy, because the idea of mirroring Christ and having complete dedication to the sacraments was becoming more important, as well as trying to lead by example as clergy to the laypeople. This was very important in setting up what would change in the eleventh century as more authoritative figures wanted to establish order and set things right within the Church (9). According to O’Malley, the eleventh century sought to recover from the Dark Ages and was able to retrieve patristic era canon law collections (10). These recovered canon law collections contained laws related to the idea of celibacy and acted as maps or blueprints for a series of holy and zealous popes for thirty-five years, who were determined to set order in the Church and society (10). During this time the papacy established a rule of authority and power, which far surpassed anything that preceded it, and began reforming the Church. The reformers had the main goal of trying to get the clergy’s behaviors and actions to mirror the ancient canon laws interpreted by the reformers, and were striving to make the clergy and the Church more holy in nature. One of the greatest popes in history was Pope Gregory VII who came into office towards the end of the movement. Thanks to his efforts, the law of celibacy began to appear in the form that would most resemble today’s form, which is the prohibition of the ordained from being married before or after ordination (10). The sixteenth century saw the beginnings of the reformation, where the idea of celibacy was challenged and questioned by Luther and others, who broke away from the Church and who were also married. The Council of Trent was the Church’s response to the Protestants; it solidified what celibacy means today for the Church and condemned three thoughts on celibacy. According to O’Malley, these were as follows: â€Å"First, that clerics in major orders and religious priests who have made a solemn vow of chastity can validly contract marriage; second, that the regulation of celibacy is a disparagement of marriage; and third, that those who, after making a solemn vow of celibacy, cannot observe it are free to contract marriage† (11). O’Malley points out that the law has been modified. Canon 277, which is observed and practiced today, reads: Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are obliged to observe celibacy, which is a special gift of God, by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and can more freely dedicate themselves to the service of God and humankind. (11) Continuing to dive deeper into the topic of celibacy, it is important to make a distinction between the Catholic teachings of dogma and discipline. According to Catholic Answers, dogmas are teachings within the Catholic Church that will never change, and a discipline can change. As Catholic Answers points out, because of the many different variations of celibacy in the Eastern Rite Catholics, Orthodox and Oriental Christians where married priests are quite common, celibacy is a disciplinary rule, not a dogma like the Trinity is. Of course there are rules and regulations on marriage and being ordained in those areas that have married clergy, but it is the tradition in the Western or Roman Catholic Church that their clergy take a vow of celibacy; exceptions can be made for Roman Catholic Priests who are married because they converted after being Lutheran or some other denomination. Many Fundamentalists attack celibacy as being a discipline or practice that goes against the Holy Bible and against nature itself because Genesis 1:28 says to, â€Å"Be fruitful and multiply.† As Catholic Answers points out, many also argue that celibacy itself leads to perversion or that it can cause illicit sexual behavior, which is simply not true. It is true that many people are called to be married in their lives, but Catholics Answers states, â€Å"†¦The vocation of celibacy is explicitly advocated—as well as practiced—by both Jesus and Paul†. Thus, it is easy to see why celibacy is a very intricate and important part of the priesthood, because it allows the priests to be more like Jesus and have a more connected relationship with the Father and the people they minister to, just like Jesus Himself. Paul understands the importance of celibacy and complete dedication to the Lord by saying in First Corinthians 7:32-34 that, â€Å"I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided†. Being celibate is neither unnatural nor against the Bible. Jesus and Paul practiced and advocated it in their times; clearly, it is not wrong. Catholic Priests are extremely important in today’s world because they provide us with the seven sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the sick. Being celibate helps priests to perform these sacraments in the most holy manner and with complete connection to God. Unfortunately, in today’s world the idea or discipline of celibacy is becoming something that is very hard for some to understand and practice, even for priests. In her article entitled On the Verge of Ideological Mutiny: Celibacy and the Roman Catholic Priesthood, Cathleen M. Falsani said that, â€Å"The debate about mandatory celibacy for priests raises ire and eyebrows, as the Roman Catholic Church experiences a daunting shortage of priests and a declining interest in religious vocations, while stories of sexual indiscretion and abuse abound† (16). It is true that today, many people blame celibacy as the main cause of shortages to the prie sthood and many argue that celibacy shouldn’t be forced onto someone and instead be a personal choice. This issue takes a toll on the entire Church and can threaten the availability of the Mass and sacraments if shortages of priests continue (16). Many also take the Church’s view on sex as a negative thing in that sex is a bad thing and that its only use is to create children, which is why many believe that celibacy is in place for Catholic priests, according to Falsani and Bob McClory a former Catholic priest (16). As Falsani points out, the Church has responded to this view with Blessed Pope John Paul II’s papal letter which stated that, â€Å"The heart of a priest, in order that it may be available for this service, must be free. Celibacy is a sign of a freedom that exists for the sake of service†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (17). This really is what celibacy for those in the priesthood is all about: it allows them to be focused and be married to the church and God in a way that many simply many can not comprehend nor understand. It is about complete sacrifice and giving of one’s self for the greater glory of God and heaven, which allows them to administer and perform the seven holy sacraments in a way that reflects Jesus Christ Himself and His apostles who followed Him and gave up their lives for Christ’s glory. Yes, many of the apostles may have been married; nonetheless, they began to develop a greater love and meaning to what it means to be a servant of the Lord to others and to truly give up their lives in service to Him. Celibacy is not against Church teachings. Contrary to many people’s beliefs, it actually helps strengthen and reaffirm practices within the Catholic Church and proves that life is possible without giving in to worldly desires. In his article Why Celibacy Makes Sense, Robert Barron says that, â€Å"Celibacy†¦is a form of life adopted by people in love with Jesus Christ† (19). This is exactly what drives priests in their ministry and enables them to continue their work with great fervor and zeal. The Catholic priest is a person who is able to prove that being in control of one’s own desires is possible, especially in a world that is filled with sex around every corner. They are able to be that bright light within the darkness that emulates Christ and His purity and love. Imagine if Roman Catholic priests were all allowed to be married in today’s world. This would not raise any eyebrows like it does now; instead, it would just be another thing that is am ong the norm in society. However, it is precisely because of this abnormal thing called celibacy that people do raise their eyebrows at these holy men living in a world that desperately needs people to stand out and be different than what society expects them to be. This is exactly what Jesus did. He was someone Who stood out like a sore thumb during His time, but this allowed Him to lead by example and show everyone who turned their heads that a life with Him and the Father was worth living, no matter how different it was from everyone else’s in society. In The Theological Basis for Priestly Celibacy, the theologian Max Thurian writes, â€Å"Observing celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of heaven does not mean being any the less a man; by renouncing a natural form of existence, the priest discovers life in all its fullness. Christ was certainly no less of a man because he did not have affections other than those for his brethren, and a bride other than the Church.† This sums it up very well: priests try to be leaders of men and are fully committed and faithful to their bride, the Church, and to the flock of people that they minister to. The call to celibacy and the priesthood is a supernatural one, and one which the world sees as unnatural. Contrary to popular belief, celibacy and the call to be a priest is not for those men who have no attraction to women, because like everyone else, priests are human beings and men who still have wants. In his study entitled Seminarians Today, Paul Stanosz writes that sociologists Dean Hoge and Jacqueline have reported that seminarians and young priests view themselves as, â€Å"Men set apart† (19). Many priests are men who really wanted to have a family and children but decided to heed the call to sacrifice this desire and instead be fathers within the Church. The most important tool for priests and seminarians to stay strong in their training and ministry is personal prayer, and Paul Stanosz writes that, â€Å"When asked what they looked forward to as priests, the students mentioned having time for personal prayer and for leading others in prayer† (22). The main reason that seminarians and priests enjoy their personal prayer so much is that they are able to enter into a deeper prayer state because of their total commitment to the Church and not to a wife or children. Celibacy is a practice that allows priests and seminarians to be more connected with the Lord, and thus they can enjoy prayer more and get more out of it. In fact, they can draw others to it as well, because of their mirroring of Jesus Christ’s life and their connection to their unique calling. This truly makes Catholic priests â€Å"Men set apart† and is exactly what is needed in today’s world and what needs to continue within the Roman Catholic C hurch (19). As we have examined, celibacy is a topic that many do not understand because it is one that goes against the social norms of today’s society. Ultimately, it is a very big sacrifice and one that is necessary for Roman Catholic priests to effectively minister and be different from every other man in society. It is something that creates a unique bond between the celibate priest and his ministry and continues a tradition that has been handed down through history and advocated by the Church’s most prominent leaders. As mentioned at the start of this paper from Father Kenneth Doyle, celibacy allows for priests to closely resemble Jesus Christ as the leader and model of the church, it allows for love to exist and be present without being physical, and it allows priests to focus all their energy on the Church rather than on a family or children. This commitment is very grave in nature. According to the Catholic encyclopedia at newadvent.org, during the beginning of the priestly candidates’ ceremony, the bishop tells them just how significant this commitment is by saying the following: You ought anxiously to consider again and again what sort of a burden this is which you are taking upon you of your own accord. Up to this you are free. You may still, if you choose, turn to the aims and desires of the world. But if you receive this order it will no longer be lawful to turn back from your purpose. You will be required to continue in the service of God, and with His assistance to observe chastity and to be bound for ever in the ministrations of the Altar, to serve who is to reign. This is what it means to be celibate: to go against the grain and serve the Lord and the Church with all that one can offer as a priest and as a true man and disciple of Jesus Christ. Bibliography Barron, Robert. â€Å"Why Celibacy Makes Sense.† Commonweal 132.14 (2005): 17-9. ProQuest Religion. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. â€Å"Celibacy and the Priesthood.† Celibacy and the Priesthood. N.p., 10 Aug. 2004. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Celibate.† The Free Dictionary. Farlex, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Doyle, Father Kenneth. â€Å"CatholicPhilly.com: News from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Powered by The Catholic Standard & Times and Phaith Magazine.† Explaining Celibacy for Latin-rite Priests. N.p., 24 July 2012. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. . Falsani, Cathi M. â€Å"On The Verge Of Ideological Mutiny : Celibacy And The Roman Catholic Priesthood.† Daughters Of Sarah 22.1 (1996): 16-19. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. Griffin, Patrick. â€Å"Rites.† The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 11 Sept. 2012 . O’Malley, John W. â€Å"Some Basics About Celibacy.† America 187.13 (2002): 7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. Stanosz, Paul. â€Å"Seminarians Today.† Commonweal 132.14 (2005): 19-23. ProQuest Religion. Web. 21 Oct. 2012. Thurian, Max. â€Å"The Theological Basis for Priestly Celibacy.† The Theological Basis for Priestly Celibacy. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"The Catholic Holy Bible: New American Bible.† The Catholic Holy Bible: New American Bible.

Homeschool Stress

Homeschooling is a big responsibility and commitment. It can be stressful, but far too often we homeschooling parents make it more stressful than it has to be.   Are you guilty of stressing out yourself or your kids unnecessarily with any of the following? Expecting Perfection Expecting perfection in yourself or your children is certain to put unnecessary stress on your family. If you’re  transitioning from public school to homeschool, it’s important to remember that it takes time to adjust to your new roles. Even if your children have never  attended a traditional school, transitioning to  formal learning  with young children  requires a period of adjustment. Most veteran homeschooling parents would agree that this period of adjustment can  take 2-4 years. Don’t  expect perfection right out of the gate. You may be caught in the trap of  expecting academic perfection. is a  popular phrase among homeschooling parents. The idea is that you’ll stick with a topic, skill, or concept until it is completely mastered. You may hear homeschooling parents state that their children get straight A’s because they don’t move on until the skill is mastered. There is nothing wrong with that concept  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in fact, being able to work on a concept until a child fully understands it is one of the benefits of homeschooling. However, expecting 100% from your child all of the time can be frustrating for you both. It doesn’t allow for simple mistakes or an off day. Instead, you may wish to decide on a percentage goal. For example, if your child scores 80% on his paper, he clearly understands the concept and can move on. If there is a certain type of problem that caused a grade less than 100%, spend some time going back over that concept. Otherwise, give yourself and your child the freedom to move on. Trying to Finish All the Books We homeschooling parents are also often guilty of operating under the assumption that we have to complete every single page of every piece of curriculum that we use. Most homeschool curricula contain enough material for a typical 36-week school year, assuming a 5-day school week. This doesn’t account for field trips, co-op, alternative schedules, illness, or a myriad of other factors that could result in not completing the entire book. It’s okay to finish most of the book. If the subject is one that is built on previously-learned concepts, such as math, chances are that the first several lessons of the next level are going to be review. In fact, that’s often one of my kids’ favorite aspects of starting a new math book  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ it seems easy at first because it’s material they’ve already learned. If it’s not a concept-based subject  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ history, for example -  chances are, you’ll come back around to the material again before your kids graduate. If there is material that you feel you simply must cover and you’re clearly not going to have time, you may want to consider skipping around in the book, dropping some of the activities, or covering the material in a different way, such as listening to an audiobook on the topic while running errands or watching an engaging documentary during lunch.​ Homeschooling parents may also be guilty of expecting their child to complete every problem on every page. Most of us can probably remember how happy we were when one of our teachers told us to complete only the odd-numbered problems on the page. We can do that with our children. Comparing Whether you’re comparing your homeschool to your friend’s homeschool (or to the local public school) or your kids to someone else’s kids, the comparison trap puts everyone under unnecessary stress. The problem with comparison is that we tend to compare our worst to someone else’s best. That causes self-doubt as we focus on all the ways we don’t measure up rather than capitalizing on what we’re going well. If we want to produce cookie-cutter kids, what’s the point of homeschooling? We can’t tout individualized instruction as a homeschool benefit, then get upset when our kids aren’t learning exactly what someone else’s kids are learning. When you’re tempted to compare, it helps to look at the comparison objectively. Is this something your child should probably know or be doing?Is it something that would benefit your homeschool?Is it a good fit for your family?Is your child physically, emotionally, or developmentally capable of performing this task or accomplishing this skill? Sometimes, comparing helps us identify skills, concepts, or activities that we would like to incorporate in our homeschools, but if it’s something that doesn’t benefit your family or your student, move on. Don’t let unfair comparisons add stress to your home and school. Not Allowing Your Homeschool to Evolve We may start out as staunchly school-at-home parents, but later learn that  our  educational philosophy is more  in line with Charlotte Mason. We  may  begin  as radical unschoolers  only to discover that our children prefer textbooks. It is not uncommon for a family’s homeschooling style to change over time, becoming more relaxed as they get more comfortable with homeschooling or becoming more structured as their  children grow older. Allowing your homeschool to evolve is normal and positive. Trying to hold on to methods, curricula, or schedules that no longer make sense for your family will likely put undue stress on you all. Homeschooling comes with its own set of stress-inducers. Theres no need to add more to it. Let go of unrealistic expectations and unfair comparisons, and let your homeschool adapt as your family grows and changes.

Teaching Philosophy Statement. I Believe That Every Student

Teaching Philosophy Statement I believe that every student can learn. Every student has the ability inside them to grow and progress. Some may learn more than others and in different ways, but all can learn and should be treated with the respect. My goal is to teach students how to think rather than what to think. I place realistic demands on my students, hold them accountable, and enable them to believe that they are capable. I believe education is one of the most important tools a person can have in life. Every child deserves to receive the best education possible, regardless of special needs. Being placed in the least restrictive environment, gaining necessary life skills and learning how to relate and communicate with people from†¦show more content†¦I believe in individualized teaching to each of my student’s strengths. We frequently use manipulatives and real-life experiences. I believe that teachers should understand how the world around you affects your students. Finances, demographics, and family trends greatly affect not only the motivation of your student, but also how they learn. I know that some of my students have issues at home- no money for food and clothes, parents who either work at night or do not have the educational background to support their studies. A teacher needs to be sensitive to the life they have outside of school when developing a relationship with the student, as well as when you are planning a lesson plan. I teach the way I teach because these kids need someone to believe in them. They need a cheerleader in their life, and they deserve to have their teacher believe in them. They deserve to learn what everyone else is taught, but not necessarily the way the other kids learn. I teach this way because I care, and because I truly believe that for my students right now, at this time, it is what is best for them. A free and appropriate public education that meets the needs of every individual is a right that each child should be guaranteed. The laws regarding special education at both the State and Federal levels can be confusing and difficult to navigate. It’s important for families of children with special needs to stay well-informed and have theShow MoreRelatedMy Original Teaching Philosophy Statement946 Words   |  4 PagesI honestly would not make any changes to my original teaching philosophy statement because I believe that after reading through the entire phycology book, the things I read only supported the things I stated in my philosophy statement. When writing my philosophy statement I had not taken any previous education classes to aid my original teaching philosophy but I have been working with kids my entire life and so I have seen first hand what things work with children and what does not. This does notRead MoreEssay about Personal Educational Philosophy1069 Words   |  5 Pageseducational philosophy statement. It represents my ideas and values about teaching and learning; it reveals my personal teaching beliefs and their relation to the five major established educational philosophies; it shows my role and responsibilities in educational process. I place great significance on personal style of instruction and its influence on curriculum implementation. The paper also highlights my career aspiration and orientation. Personal Educational Philosophy Like a goodRead More Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay958 Words   |  4 PagesTeaching Philosophy Statement â€Å"Teacher’s change lives.† Most people would agree that this statement is true. A teacher has the responsibility of imparting knowledge to students, while having the opportunity to make a huge impact on each student’s life. 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Through committedRead MoreMy Most Valued Learning Experiences977 Words   |  4 Pages My most valued learning experiences have been with the discussions of each module; I learned so much from my fellow students about their views and beliefs. It was a very wonderful experience reading about what they think and then replying to them, as well as, the replies I received from my fellow students about my statements. My fellow students beliefs were very interesting and understandable, and if we disagreed with a viewpoint they were not ru de but instead very courteous. Instead, they

Witchcraft And Its Effect On Society - 1393 Words

Witchcraft is described as the use of magical powers obtained particularly from evil spirits. It can be further explained as the use of sorcery or magic, and communication with the devil. Witchcraft originated with the human civilization itself, and can be dated back 40 000 years to the Paleolithic period. Though the belief fails to persist in developed nations, it continues to prevail in evolving populations such as Papua New Guinea. In the past decade in P.N.G, hundreds of men, women, and children, have been accused of witchcraft or sorcery, and publicly tortured and murdered by vigilante mobs (MacLean 2014). In particular, there has been an increasing reported link between sorcery and witchcraft and violence against women. Over the years, the notion of witchcraft transmuted, and the term â€Å"witch† developed into a metonymy for â€Å"female†. Lack of education, cultural implantations, and biological misconceptions contribute to witchcraft serving as a means of mis ogyny. The importance of education is undeniable as it plays a rudimentary role in society and increases the potential of individuals. Rural women in P.N.G. establish a category with substantially less access to education. Educational achievement clearly separates a political elite from ordinary citizens, but among those ordinary citizens educational achievement is distributed in such a way that males have a greater chance than females of entering that elite (Johnson 1993:189). This becomes problematic in terms ofShow MoreRelatedWitchcraft And Its Effect On Society3333 Words   |  14 PagesWitchcraft exists. Whether we choose to believe or not, its existence in worldwide cultures is undeniable. Its form takes many shapes that can be determined by the religion, economics, politics, and folk beliefs in each individual culture where it may take place. Its importance in our own, American, history should not go understated: Witches were a major dilemma for people who lived in 1692 Salem, Massa chusetts, and as a result women (and men) were hanged due to undeniable belief in the power ofRead MoreWitchcraft Is The Existence Of Magic That Is Manipulated For Both Good And Wicked Essay1495 Words   |  6 PagesWitchcraft in Nepal â€Å"Witchcraft is the belief of magic that is manipulated for both good and wicked purposes† (McGarry, 2016). The practice of witchcraft is demonstrated in many societies around the world; however, witchcraft is looked down upon. In this case, two societies in Nepal are significant for the practices and beliefs of witchcraft: the Tibetan Nyinba, and the Kathmandu Village. These two societies believe in witchcraft because of the harmful and malicious practices [witches] hold withinRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials And The Early Civilizations1725 Words   |  7 PagesAlthough the Salem Witch trials are commonly referred to as the start of the witchcraft persecution, witchcraft can be found the early civilizations. Evidence of this is easily found in the societies that had Shamans or Healers of the village, where healing or blessings were done through spiritual connections. Back then, people were more accepting of it in their daily lives because they depended on it, but things were different in Europe during the Middle AGes. With the added influence of ChristianRead MoreWitchcraft1717 Words   |  7 PagesDruga gimnazija Sarajevo IB World School Middle Years Programme HISTORY Reformation in Europe in 16th century ------------------------------------------------- Witchcraft WORD COUNT 1138 Sarajevo, October 2012 Action Plan For this essay I choose to write about witchcraft in the 16th and 17th century since I find the topic extremely interesting the write about. Given that we only have a paragraph about it in out History textbooks, I will have to look into other books and also searchRead MoreThe Church Of The Christian Church1544 Words   |  7 Pagesrepentance will not clear what you have done and that God will not give you certain blessings because you have sinned. This institution of my culture functions similarly to the Azande and their witchcraft because they are both used to control society. The Author also states on page five hundred-fifty-five that, â€Å"Witchcraft is thought to be an actual physical property residing inside some individuals, who may themselves be unaware of their power.† I relate this statement to some of the Christian pastors andRead More Witches Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England. New York: Vintage, 1987.nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen takes a closer look at the females being accused of witchcraft in colonial New England. American history has few subjects as interesting as witchcraft, because it confronts us with many different ideas about women. It confronts us with fears about women, the place of women in society, and with women themselvesRead MoreThe practice of using ritual powers, magic and the invocation of spirits-broadly termed as1200 Words   |  5 PagesThe practice of using ritual powers, magic and the invocation of spirits-broadly termed as witchcraft- is a fascinating topic shrouded in mystery. Although an ancient practise, witchcraft is still a very relevant topic in modern society. In Evans-Pritchard’s article entitled â€Å"The Notion of Witchcraft explains Unfortunate Events†, he focuses on how witchcraft helps the people of the Azande tribe make sense of the relation between their people and the unfortunate events that they encounter. It doesRead MoreWitches, Sorcerers, And Shamans1650 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst and most recent article reviewed, Witchcraft Prosecutions and the Decline of Magic, relays a bell curve theory for the rise and ultimate decline in the belief in magic and witches. The author, Edward Bever, attributes the rise in witch prosecutions to the rising populations and limited resources. Bever focuses on a shift of how witchcraft is studied. Many relate the Enlightenment with the decline in of witchcraft, he sees the Enlightenment as more of an effect of the decline of witch trials, notRead MoreWitchcraft And Superstition In Medieval Europe1654 Words   |  7 PagesWitchcraft and superstition in Medieval Europe The concept of witchcraft and superstition stretches over a long period of time. The idea became familiar around 560 B.C when the two old testaments denounced witches and the belief in them. The idea is said to have originated in Europe, rapidly spreading around the world. Medieval Europe was an era that solely believed in magic, witches and the supernatural. In the Middle Ages witchcraft was viewed as a heinous crime that was punishable by deathRead MoreThe Crucible By Nicholas Hytner1638 Words   |  7 Pagestown of Salem as they are engulfed in the mass hysteria of witchcraft. A group of young girls are caught dancing in the woods, and thus fearing punishment claim that they were possessed by the devil. Soon the accusations run wild which resulted in the arrest of two-hundred peoples, and the execution of twenty. Today the film is regarded as an allegory for the McCarthy hearings though it also provides an intimate look into the closed societies of colonial America. The film d isplays some of the themes

Edward Said Free Essays

In any part in the world, there is no place to be but home. Home is a place where we feel safe and take refuge. But how we will feel if this is taken from us? The essay by Edward Said, â€Å"States,† narrates the story of about his country, Palestine, and the struggle of his countrymen. We will write a custom essay sample on Edward Said or any similar topic only for you Order Now He also shares the passion of his homeland which we can relate to. â€Å"States† exemplify the experiences and perceptions of how important a home is to a common Palestinian. Our country is a big part of who we are. As we are born, we are destined to become a part of it. It becomes part of our identity. Things that we grew up with meant something to us. We usually treasure things that became part of our lives. Even unconsciously, we take hold of it. Home brings us memories, memories that we want to hold on up to our last breath. It plays a big role to our development, as a child and as a person fully. Home is part of ourselves which became a foundation of we are today. To be away from home makes us feel empty or incomplete in a sense. This is experience by people who are exiled from their own homeland. Exiles are treated as aliens and feel shame to one’s pride. As Said explains â€Å"exile is a series of portraits without names, without context. † (Said,555). Exile is a miserable thing. Nothing can be so embarrassing than to be taken away from home. It saddens a person to feel a stranger to his own country. One is not only deprived of the social rights but as well as the freedom. As described in the essay of Edward Said an exile is referred as â€Å"present absentees† where to their homeland, they are vanished and as for the host country they are viewed as aliens. How to cite Edward Said, Papers

The Walt Disney Company-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Discuss about the Walt Disney Company. Answer: Introduction The Walt Disney Company is one of the most well-known brands in the world that has a number of businesses under its conglomerate umbrella. It was established by Walt Disney in 1923 in California. Over the years Disney has created some of the most iconic characters ever and has enjoyed huge popularity across the globe, encompassing every age group (Fiascone Christensen, 2014). However, during the course pf their operations Disney has also faced criticism over poor script writing, low quality production and animation qualities. Poor acting skills have always been a cause for headache of the companys films. Disney has acquired other iconic companies in recent years with hopes to expand their business and overcome the problems they had been facing. Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm were two of the biggest addition to the conglomerate that gave the company hopes to make a comeback from the slump that hit the company. The following paper is set to look into the matters that are pestering Disney and try to give a feasible solution that would be beneficial to the companys current condition and help the company out of the unfortunate circumstances as soon as possible (Baxter, 2016). Current situation of the company Disney is one of the biggest and most profitable organisations on the planet. But the biggest problem for the company that has been ailing the business of Disney is the fact that the company has become stagnant and has not evolved. The company has been called to become too old: brand fatigue has set in. the characters of the company are legendary but they were all created far long back. Most of the sales of the company still comes from either Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, the later character being created in 1961 and the former in 1928 (Gonneville, 2013). Not being able to provide the fans with new characters and stories have heavily affected the companys business. To overcome this, Disney paired up with Pixar Studios, to breathe new life into the company. But legal disputes over the control of the production and the plot led this to be come astray. Acquiring Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm did not help the company as much as it had hoped for either. Recent ambitious projects and movies did not instigate positive force into the functions of Disney. High School Musical 3, Bolt, Race to Witch Mountain, Confessions of a Shopaholic; all failed to meet their expectations. The movies cost Disney a significant amount of money and did not make enough market profit, making the troubles of the company only greater (Graham, Lawrence Requejo, 2014). Thoughts to resolve the issues There are several critical questions that the new CEO of the company at the moment. After the legal dispute with Pixar, during the time of the last CEO Michael Eisner, the new CEO had to go through a lot of trouble to persuade the CEO of Pixar, Steve Jobs, to convince Pixars President Ed Catmull and creative head John Lasseter to join Disney again on against the promise of giving them full control over the animation and financial controls of the animated movies. Along with being called too old, Disney characters have also been told to be too young as they rarely have any significant appeal to teenagers, who are on the cusp of adolescence and view Disney characters as for the kids younger than them (Wills, 2017). With so many problems riddling the business and internal operations of the company, the basic and most important question is about how can these be tackled efficiently and what are the correct strategies that can adopted to make sure this period of slump gets over for Disney. The new CEO has successfully re-initiated the Disney-Pixar collaboration after much attempts and a number of promises to Catmull and Lasseter. Still there are a number of other issues that need to be resolved quickly. Disney faces a critical question at this specific juncture of time: whether to expand its operations or to downsize on everything and resolve the financial troubles first. Strategies The company has many strategies as its upcoming projects that are going to hopefully turn the adversities around and make the company see bright days ahead. There are some core plans that the company wants to turn into reality and these ideas are to be manifested in the core ideals of the company: to make the world a happier place for everyone alike (Meinel, 2016). Theming: Disney understands a basic fact about marketing; making special themes have the power to attract a lot of attention, which in turn is a guarantor of better sales. Without the themes and iconic aspect to Disneys characters, there is hardly anything special about them (Wasko, 2013). This is the most important thing about Disney and the single aspect that is to be given the most priority to jump start the companys performance and reputation again. Disney aims to overhaul their Disneyland and other major parks with themes as the guidelines for the purpose. Everything from the rides, to the park decorations will be subjected to a specific theme and every operation and function of those would revolve around the chosen theme (Wills, 2017). Understanding the cash potential of the Disney assets is a major thing to do and this could possibly turn the entire scenario in favour of Disney if these assets are used in an efficient and skillful manner. A vital thing Disney has to ensure is to reflect its beliefs and ideologies in every function it has. Going back to the roots of the company is the way that has the ability to bring a lot of exposure to the company, as the characters of the company have remained untouched by time. New plots are to be introduced, which would revive the old characters and make them contemporary and valid once again (Meinel, 2016). Disney has to be able to make the customers and fans feel like that Disney cares for them and are still the providers of the happiest things on the planet. Immersion: Making decisions that would involve the fans in the decision making provcess may be a great way to reach out and communicate with the customers. Making them feel like they are a part of the revival process of the company can make the whole thing much more intimate, making customers and fans want to help in the strategies that would re-energise the company (Bolman Deal, 2015). Fans can be made to participate in programs and contests where they can create characters of their own. Competitions where the backstories of the lives of these characters can be told by the creators themselves to other fans. The best of these would be selected by Disney that have potential to become the next Disney sensation. The company would then involve these sporadic spontaneous creators and begin investing in these projects. A lot of market appreciation and new market exposure can be gained by this strategy (Meinel, 2016). This would also help the company to evolve and update itself as well as becoming well versed about the current market requirements. The ideas that will not be chosen would lend useful insights about what the customers want, and this can prove to be immensely useful in providing the creative team of Disney with new materials that may result in new stories and characters. Disney has always been something more than just characters. It has the power to immerse the viewer to be immersed in what is being shown. This engulfing characteristic of the company has to be brought back if Disney wishes to revive its former glory (Olk, Rainsford Tsungting, 2015). Setting priorities: Disney has historically been the maker of characters and producers of TV shows that have often made the viewer or the customer feel like a royalty. This ability to treat the customers in a way that they would always cherish is a highly valued quality of Disney that has lost its charisma in the recent years (Zipes, 2016). Disney aims to embark on widespread campaigns that would be a strategic dive to bring this back again and instill a feeling of being loved and attention giving to its customers. Disney movies have always been the place which made fans believe that even the most ordinary person can be a princess. A frog can be the ruler of kingdoms. This fantasy world creation and finding hope even in the most mundane and ordinary is a defining trait of Disney. The campaigns that are thought of would be done in random places: roadside stalls to open air demonstrations as well as targeting the malls (Zipes, 2016). A lot of audience attention is sure to be gained, wh ich would make the people attending, or even the passing by people, these demonstrations feel special, albeit being momentarily. In todays world, good customer service is something that has become a rarity, and Disneys ability to make the customers feel so special is surely going to make people want to buy Disney products once again and visit the theme parks. Using the myths of the company: However far may the company roam and it may acquire a lot of new materials and characters, but its history is still the most popular thing about Disney. Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck are still some of the most popular characters ever to have been created. Disney plans to bring back these timeless classics with new materials. Making the characters up to date so that more of the current young generation can relate to these and not discard them as obsolete (Wills, 2017). Disney has new creative teams and has set up committees that are dedicated towards achieving this particular goal: to make the classic characters relevant again. By updating the old characters, Disney would be tapping into its prime source of market popularity that made the company what it is today. Disney is once again bestowing its faith and hopes upon its creator and the company views this as almost a guarantee that the company would gain immensely from this as it has over the years. Shifting focus while keeping the origin at heart: In parallel to reviving and updating the plots and the stories of the classic characters, Disney also has to understand that the collective market demands and peoples choices have evolved. Mickey Mouse is popular, but so is the Incredible Hulk. The company has to invest significant amounts in its acquired companies. Marvel is one if the biggest comics icon today and their live action movies are often a spectacle for many. Children of all ages are attracted towards these characters and even the adults are entertained (Zornado, 2017). This segment of the company conglomerate has to be given high amount of priorities and investment. Marvel Entertainments own following and loyal fan base would be exploited by Disney and the movies are going to prove essential to the companys rebirth. Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchise copyrights are also owned by Disney. These two franchise are popular themselves. Star Wars characters have their own business as well and they also have many things and products to offer to the customers. A diversification is needed at an earliest so that Disney can focus on many areas at the same time and make use of any possible means to gain its market grounds (Van de Vijver, 2016). The question of expansion or retrench In times of trouble and financial difficulty, it is a logical step to downsizing the company. It helps to cut down a lot of unnecessary costs and help the company to handle a lot more pressing issues. However, Disney has always been the place and company that has shown magic exists even in the simplest of conditions and the supposedly ordinary. That is the reason why the CEO has decided that, and the Board has agreed to, the company shall not undergo any downsizing. The company has endured all the adversities along with its employees and it shall expand and prosper in the same way (Montgomery, 2015). A lot of focus shift is bound to happen, but letting employees go is out of the question. The ideology of being the happiest place on Earth must be retained at any cost. The company will invest heavily in reviving the old characters, as well as focusing on the new acquired companies. Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be concluded that Disney is on the verge of changing their entire operations at the moment and they hope that these changes would be the driving force that would once again take the company back to its glorious years. The company is firm on the decision to keep all its employees during this process to re-establish itself in the market and not lay any employee off. The companys ideals are still believed in by the employees and that would be the most important thing that would dictate Disneys every decision in the future as well. References Baxter, J. E. (2016). Adult nostalgia and childrens toys past and present.International Journal of Play,5(3), 230-243. Bolman, L. G., Deal, T. E. (2015). ThinkOr sink.Leader to Leader,2015(76), 35-40. Fiascone, R., Christensen, M. (2014). Disney Pixar: Building a Magic Kingdom of Animation. Gonneville, H. M. (2013). Is Snow White Still the Fairest of Them All? How Once Upon A Time Reinvents the Image of the Disney Princess. Graham, J. L., Lawrence, L., Requejo, W. H. (2014). Reviewing and Improving. InInventive Negotiation(pp. 201-210). Palgrave Macmillan US. Meinel, D. (2016). Exceptional Animation: An Introduction. InPixar's America(pp. 1-43). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. Montgomery, C. (2015). Cartoon Wasteland: Remediating and Recommodifying Archival Media in Disneys Epic Mickey.Media Industries Journal,2(1). Olk, P., Rainsford, P., Tsungting, C. (2015). Creating a Strategic Direction. Van de Vijver, L. (2016). Going to the exclusive show: Exhibition strategies and moviegoing memories of Disneys animated feature films in Ghent (19371982).European Journal of Cultural Studies,19(4), 403-418. Wasko, J. (2013).Understanding Disney: The manufacture of fantasy. John Wiley Sons. Wills, J. (2017).Disney Culture. Rutgers University Press. Zipes, J. (2016). Demystifying Disney: A History of Feature Animation.Marvels Tales,30(2), 373. Zornado, J. (2017). Disney, Pixar, and Neoliberal Nostalgia. InDisney and the Dialectic of Desire(pp. 175-211). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.