Black and White Photography Essay Example for Free

Black and White Photography Essay Black and white photography can be misunderstood in a modern artistic perspective. This type of photographic depiction is captivating and speaks through the image into the mind where it processes the lack of color by visualizing the depth and contrast vividly. An image that used in colorless photography was seen prior to the 20th century as the normal way to take pictures, but now we have color photography. However, photographers are still finding that black and white images are important to documentation, art, and photojournalism. Black and white photography is a technique that creates a unique impression upon the viewer that cannot be seen in traditional color photograph. No one has to be an expert to realize when looking at a black and white image, that it is something out of the ordinary. â€Å"Black and white and color photography are two different languages. † (Hass 14) Looking at two images side by side, one black and white and one color, the color photograph may be striking, although when just glancing that opinion may be true but looking at them for a long period of time, the colorless picture will prove its self by composition using shadows and highlights. The darkness that seems to be apparent in a black and white photograph usually brings the viewer to believe it is sad and depressing but that opinion is in the eye of the beholder, can a photograph of a sunset be sad and depressing just because it is in black and white? â€Å"The ultimate truth is that the black and white digital photography can make the world look completely different from what it is through the human eyes† (Jelling 1). Many digital photographers actually prefer to shoot images intentionally being black and white, in low contrast situations. So a dark or overcast day can be a great time to shoot out door shots. Most of the time for black and white photography, after the image is taken, it doesn’t need to be photo shopped or edited because the beauty stands on its own. In a color photograph, a lot of editing has to be done because of all the complex colors and shades. For example, red eye can be seen in a color photograph but cannot be seen in a black and white photograph. Many visual tools are used in a colorless photograph including: form, tone, texture and pattern. All of these visual tools are more prominent because there is nothing to take away from the original art of what has been captured. In a color photograph, the color is stealing the viewer’s attention or distracting it away from being a great photo and the appeal of the image is less in the art and more in the color. The viewer is more fascinated with the pretty colors than the deep truth that a black and white image beholds. Color is seen as a major distraction to the overall â€Å"mood† of the picture, when color is removed, the subject can be seen much better. â€Å"What does black and white convey to the viewer? Separateness and coolness with overtones of art, age and credibility† (â€Å"In Living Color† 1). Anyone can see the difference a black and white image holds, it is clear that there is a difference and the subject stands out unlike a color photograph where only the color is seen as a whole, in black and white, what is trying to be seen is clear. â€Å"Light and dark are the fundamental photographic components. Black and white was once the only kind of image available. However, a black and white image contains more than just black and white, light and dark, it has a full range of tones from paper white through light, mid and dark greys to dense black. (Prakel 15). â€Å"Black and white Photography always gives one the feeling of looking at real art. While sometimes bad photographers use the method (of using black and white photography) to cover their inability to take a good shot, in the hands of a true master, black and white shows the best photography can offer. † (Enk and Delbos 1). Unlike the average person taking pictures in black and white, professionally done black and white photographs can be stunning and nothing like any other type. Many photographers regard colorless photography as the purest form of photography available, even compared to still life. The definition of black and white photography is any type of photography in which form, tone, texture, and pattern are the main focus of attention in a photograph. Color depicts reality and with a colorless photography it is unrealistic, meaning the human eye cannot see what the camera sees, we see color in everything but a colorless photograph shows us what we cannot see. It allows the viewer to interpret reality through a photographic medium. Black and white images are, by their nature, abstract and can tolerate much more tonal manipulation without sacrificing realism because it works in a spectrum of black and white and everything in between. â€Å"The sheer beauty of a well-lit black and white frame is hard to beat because it’s difficult to produce that type of focus and simplicity when you’re shooting in color. † (Caterson 1) Lighting is a major part of black and white photography; it redefines the image into something great. Light turns an average picture into a magnificent one, if he lighting is done right. Shadows play an important role in the composition of a black and white photograph. That is why black and white photographers shoot their pictures in a very well lit environment. † I suppose I would describe black and white, or monochrome photography as a filter. It fitters out the color so you become aware of the light, the shadows, the composition and not the color. † (Caterson 1) â€Å"Seeing is not enough; you have to feel what you photograph. â€Å" Andre Kertesz, Photographer. The most prominent aspect of a black and white image is the feeling the viewer gets from looking at something that has color but has been taken and made into something that is made of greys and shades of contrast instead of what was a bright red is now black, for example. The feeling is usually somber and dark but can be taken as a good thing because the darkness portrayed comes from the instinctiveness of a black and white photograph being from history and the old days; black and white photography is associated with history because that was the only kind of photography available at that time. Selenium toned, silver-based, black and white photographs have an inherent depth, luminosity, and 3-D quality, unlike that produced by any other process† (Olssen 70) â€Å"Just as in the media of the written word we have poems, essays, scientific and journalistic reports, novels, dramas and catalogues, so with photography we touch the domains of science, illustration, documentation and expressive art. † Ansel Adams Photographer. â€Å"Color photography of actual settings overwhelms with its specificity and leaves little to no room for distance and thereby for theory† (Sassen 438). Distance is something that color photography has trouble with grasping. Distance comes from the monochrome parts of an image that create the depth form a fade of one color. Shadow can be seen in that one color usually being grey in black and white and in color it turns out to be a mixture of colors that confuses the image as being movement instead of just distance. â€Å"The two form a striking juxtaposition that is a testament to the stark power of black and white photography to capture the range and depth of ascetics, emotions and, often unbeknown to its subjects, history. (Enk and Delbos 1) The credibility of black and white photography may seem to be fading away, although it is sure to shine as it did in the history books, telling its story so vividly. As important as it was then it is an art that has been extremely perfected throughout the years, it is now what no one thought it would become. It was thought to never return as color photography arose but even in the coming years, it will prove itself to viewers just as it did in the days when it was famous.

Gay Marriage Should Be Legal :: Same-Sex Marriage Essays

On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Should gay marriages really be allowed? Has the Supreme Court ruled in error? In our society today, homosexuals are treated unconstitutionally, they are forced to live a secret life, they are forbidden to adopt and raise children and unable to marry the person they love. This is just a few to the many inequalities that homosexuals face in everyday life. The constitution guarantees the right to free speech and the right to pursue happiness to everyone, although homosexuals do not get to live their life by their choice. Most Americans will claim that they are in favor of equal rights for homosexuals. They will all say that gays should have the same rights in housing, jobs, and public accommodations and they should have equal access to government benefits and equal protection of the law. The average American thinks that homosexuals deserve all the rights that heterosexuals, but gay marriage is dead wrong. Many people also believe that homosexuality is about nothing but sex. If homosexuality was all about sex, why would they fight so hard to be able to marry? The reality is that homosexuality is much more about love and affection than it is about sex. Noboody can come up with a good reason to deny gays the right to marry. Homosexual people should be allowed to marry. One argument against gay marriage is that homosexual couples are not the ideal environments to raise children in. Any convicted felon (child molesters, murderers...) can be married and raise children. Many scientific studies have shown that children raised in homes with homosexual couples are just as good as those of straight couples. Psychologists tell us that what makes the difference is the love of the parents, not their gender ( ). Gay people can love their children just as well as anyone else. Homosexuals want children just like anyone else wants to be a parent. Some wish to give a child the love of a good, devoted family that they did or did not experience when they were raised, which would be pretty predictable depending on when they came out. Would an orphan be better off waiting longer for a family, or with the better chances of being an adoptee, since there would be so many more adopters? Gay Marriage Should Be Legal :: Same-Sex Marriage Essays On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Should gay marriages really be allowed? Has the Supreme Court ruled in error? In our society today, homosexuals are treated unconstitutionally, they are forced to live a secret life, they are forbidden to adopt and raise children and unable to marry the person they love. This is just a few to the many inequalities that homosexuals face in everyday life. The constitution guarantees the right to free speech and the right to pursue happiness to everyone, although homosexuals do not get to live their life by their choice. Most Americans will claim that they are in favor of equal rights for homosexuals. They will all say that gays should have the same rights in housing, jobs, and public accommodations and they should have equal access to government benefits and equal protection of the law. The average American thinks that homosexuals deserve all the rights that heterosexuals, but gay marriage is dead wrong. Many people also believe that homosexuality is about nothing but sex. If homosexuality was all about sex, why would they fight so hard to be able to marry? The reality is that homosexuality is much more about love and affection than it is about sex. Noboody can come up with a good reason to deny gays the right to marry. Homosexual people should be allowed to marry. One argument against gay marriage is that homosexual couples are not the ideal environments to raise children in. Any convicted felon (child molesters, murderers...) can be married and raise children. Many scientific studies have shown that children raised in homes with homosexual couples are just as good as those of straight couples. Psychologists tell us that what makes the difference is the love of the parents, not their gender ( ). Gay people can love their children just as well as anyone else. Homosexuals want children just like anyone else wants to be a parent. Some wish to give a child the love of a good, devoted family that they did or did not experience when they were raised, which would be pretty predictable depending on when they came out. Would an orphan be better off waiting longer for a family, or with the better chances of being an adoptee, since there would be so many more adopters?

Organizational Performance Management Paper and Table

Medical facilities are forced into a position of working together for the sake of the patient. Nursing homes, doctor’s offices, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and hospice centers all must communicate with each other in order to provide the best care possible. Due to advances in technology, these individual entities can communicate easier with each other than ever before. Email communications, video/telephone communications make acquiring important information less time consuming and exceptionally easy for anyone involved. These new technologies also make it easier for supervisors and subordinates to communicate information to each other, even when they happen to be in different locations. â€Å"When two individuals coordinate their actions within a predefined hierarchy—such as when supervisors communicate with subordinates—their interactions are an observable manifestation of organization-in-action. † (Bidel, Messersmith & Kelley, 2012). One of the most important aspects of attempting a staff buy-in to any change in policy or procedure is to make the staff feel as though they had a hand in deciding how to implement the new policy or procedure changes. Staff members like to feel that their voice and opinion matters in the decision making process where they work. Staff members feel this way because any policy changes or procedural changes are changes that will directly affect their everyday work habits and life. It is important for a facility to do everything they can to follow all regulatory statutes that are required of the business, but it is more important to have a staff that is willing to do all they can to help your business reduce any potential risks that could arise. Training the staff accordingly to follow the proper procedural directives in accordance with state/federal regulations will ensure that the facility is reducing as much of their risk as possible. It is also important to schedule points during the year for additional training for changes that are occasionally made to regulations within the accreditation process. If a medical facility does not stay on top of changing regulations they can find themselves in a bad position both legally and financially. Medical facilities can be put in position to lose their license to practice, be fined into closure, and depending on the level of the violation staff members could be risking jail time for not following regulations precisely. There is nothing more important in a medical facility than patient safety and being compliant of regulations and following regulations contributes to patient safety. Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals are health care organizations that provide post-acute care and services to patients who are discharged from acute care hospitals, but need a longer stay to get well. Patients admitted to LTACH’s are not well enough to be discharged home or to an Assisted Living Facility, where caregivers provide assistance for gainful living. Upon discharged from LTACH’s some patients in need of extensive rehabilitation were referred to Acute Care Rehabilitation Facilities for further care before the patient is discharged home. Terminally ill patients in need of palliative services, upon permission were discharged from Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals and were admitted to hospices for further end-of-life care (Jones, 2012). Each health care organization and assisted living facility are accredited and regulated by the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Service. They are also subjected to Joint Commission accreditation and standards to obtain and maintain accredited authority through the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services, which operates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health and Human Services. Healthcare organizations operating under state regulators may differ in Joint Commission standards (CMS, 2012). The Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Joint Commission establishes grounds and conditions for participation, and interprets guidelines for compliance. It is noted that Joint Commission’s hospital accreditation program were subjected to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements for organizations seeking accrediting authority. The Joint Commission (JC) also provides CMS with surveys and reports for healthcare organizations requiring and requesting accreditation and seeking to participate in, and receive payment from Medicare and Medicaid programs. Healthcare organization must become certified and comply with the Conditions of Participation (COP) or federal standards (CMS, 2012). Certifications were based on surveys conducted by state agencies on the behalf of the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). On the other hand, Joint Commission (JC) as a national accrediting organization can evaluate, and classify healthcare organizations as possessing standards that meet the criteria of federal Condition of Participation; therefore CMS may grant that particular accredited healthcare organization â€Å"deemed status,† which are not subjected to surveys conducted by Medicare. Deemed status options are available for hospices, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and other health care service providers (CMS, 2012). Risk and quality management compliments each other and are two important components in organizational structuring, maintenance, and securing the sustainability of health care organizations. They are among the most highly regulated sectors of commerce, especially because administrative liabilities and criminal sanctions could be imposed against health care organizations. Compliances to regulations and the developing risk and quality management systems, contributes to the each of these organization’s entire performance-management system. Effective management improves the healthcare provider’s ability to provide quality care. It promotes better patient, reduces errors, and reduces the likelihood of unexpected events (Lee, 2011). The overall performance management systems improve quality services, ensure better resource planning for effective utilization and ensure that the organization is in compliance with governing regulations that could affect licensing. Effective management also provides assurance to stakeholders that the healthcare organization is meeting expectations, which includes integrating risk and quality management systems that produce the right outcomes for continuance quality improvement and secure the organizations ability to serve public by providing quality care (Phoenix, 2011). Risk and quality management programs utilizes a performance management system to identify risk ,waste, identify federal standard, regulation, setting goals, requirements for accreditation, assigning accountability, monitoring performance and making adjustments as necessary. Evaluating progress, providing feedback and communicate results are among the many activities that comprise a performance management system. As you conduct your research, remember the broad efinition of a performance-management system: a comprehensive system used by an organization to ensure that the organization achieves its goals and improves its performance. A performance-management system is the overarching system that encompasses both risk management and quality management. Determine how compliance with the regulations and development of risk- and quality-management systems for each type of organization contribute to the organization’s overall performance-management system.

Edward de Vere is the Real Shakespeare Essay

Edward de Vere was an Earl of Oxford. There is an ongoing debate whether William Shakespeare’s plays were his or these were the creations of Edward de Vere. This debate continues because literary scholars and historians reject this theory but was supported by theater practitioners and researchers. De Vere, also known as Oxford, was called a playwright and poet but his works did not survive. Some of his poetry was anonymously published in â€Å"Arte of English Poesie† in 1589. This was confirmed by the author George Puttenham. Very many noble gentlemen in the Court that have written commendably and suppressed it again, or else suffered it to be published without their own names to it, as it were a discredit for a gentleman, to seem learned, and to show himself amorous of any good art. † (Nelson, 165) Oxford as a dramatist is given proof through the testimony of Francis Meres in â€Å"Palladis Tamia. † He describes his works as â€Å"the best for comedy. † (Whalen, 361). Nonetheless, few of Oxford’s poems and songs are credited to his own name. The dates of these works are uncertain. Most of which are signed â€Å"Earle of Oxenforde† or â€Å"E. O. † When he was alive, Oxford was always in the company of English poets. In 1920, J Thomas Looney presented facts that Oxford was the real author of Shakespeare’s plays. The facts he presented were: a. ) Oxford’s advanced education and first-hand knowledge of an aristocrat’s life b. ) the law c. ) the military c. ) theater background d. ) high praise of Oxford’s works by his peers and e. ) the countless similarities between Oxford’s life and the setting of the plays. Looney’s hypothesis was that Oxford published his works under a pseudonym since it was disgraceful for an aristocrat like him to be writing plays for public theater. (Nelson, 158). This claim was confirmed by Renaissance scholars. Members of the Tudor aristocracy were recognized as reputable poets but none of them published their works. None of Sir Walter Raleigh, Sir Fulke Greville, Sir Edward Dyer and Sir Philip Sidney published their creations despite their recognition in the aristocratic society. (Whalen, 248). Through the ideas presented by Looney, other writers became notable Oxfordians. Sigmund Freud, Mark Twain, columnist Joseph Sobran, biographer and historian David McCullough and actors Orson Welles, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir John Gielgud and Jeremy Irons all believe that it was Oxford who wrote these plays. (Lindquist, 23) However, there are gaps on Looney’s theory. One is the evidentiary gap such as Oxford’s death in 1604. If he were in fact the real author of Shakespeare’s plays, the he wouldn’t have witnessed the wreck of the Sea Venture in Bermuda and the Gunpowder Plot† which were said to be the allusions to Shakespeare’s dramas â€Å"The Tempest† and â€Å"Macbeth. Then there are writers like Leonard Digges and Ben Jonson who provide concrete evidence that Shakespeare is a reputed poet. (Lindquist, 24) Oxfordians provide proof through the use of modern research that Shakespeare no longer published his plays after 1604. Also, Oxfordian biographers Mark Anderson and William Farina showed research which indicate that the publication of Shakespeare’s plays actually ended in 1604. (Simpson, 34) Aside from Oxford, there are other candidates who are considered to have been the real author of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. These are Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon and the Earl of Derby. These theories were rejected by academic establishments. Through the ideas and hypothesis of Looney and the Oxfordians, Oxford as the real author of Shakespeare’s works still stands true. (Nelson, 102) A crucial reasoning of why Oxford is the actual author of Shakespeare’s works come in the political topography of â€Å"Hamlet. † (Propson, 13) The Denmark in the play is identical with the biography Oxford has been accustomed in. The play is an imaginative presentation of what Oxford would have done, based on his other works that were published under a pseudonym. Oxfordians continue to present other arguments with such depth and accurate research to back up their hypothesis and their theories. Oxford mastered the understanding and experience that is evident in Shakespeare’s plays. Oxford’s poems also have the same flow as those of Shakespeare’s. He explored and developed the stanzaic and metric forms when writing poetry, just like Shakespeare and his sonnets. (Propson, 15) And just like any aristocrat, he was status-conscious and he needed recognition for his success. He was determined to have his way and would have made it sure to have received credit for his plays or his poetry. So why then would he have allowed this to happen if he actually wrote the plays? Scholars who studied Oxford as a man and the possible Shakespeare describe him as â€Å"a puzzle to his generation. † Oxford was eccentric and creative and he showed varying moods, subtle movements and fierce passions. His words as seen in his poetry are inexplicable and extraordinary. The knowledge and insight of these works cannot be discussed easily, as confirmed by Looney. â€Å"The poetic genius has more or less always been a man apart. † (Whalen, 183) However, those who believe that Shakespeare was the real author of his works scrutinized Oxford’s works as lacking the depth and the conscious knowledge that Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are known for. (Lindquist, 28). His poetry did not have the level of knowledge or the comprehension of philosophies and advance consciousness of the characters as evident in Shakespeare’s plays. But these facts do not stop Oxfordians from seeing De Vere as the candidate for Shakespeare’s actual authorship. They strongly believe that his capability as a dramatist and poet â€Å"conforms to the mind and capacity and character of Shakespeare. (Simpson, 23) Oxford was generous and often funded patronage to projects that benefited literacy, religion, medicine, philosophy, science and music. Not only was he a poet and playwright, he was also a patron. This proves that Oxford made sure he was recognized. Another question mark is that ten other Shakespearean plays were published after 1604, which was the year Oxford died. (Lindquist) The strongest claim that Oxford is in fact the real Shakespeare is the cumulative parallels of the earl’s life to the works and the specificity of his personal references and concerns as seen in the plays and the poems. Oxford was a pure-bred aristocrat and he has been educated along with other noble families. He had profound literary tastes and through this, has become a lyrical poet. He was a traveler and is quite fashionable. He loved music. This is set alongside the fact that Shakespeare was illiterate. Oxfordians say that Shakespeare would have had a hard time writing his own signature, what more composing plays and sonnets. They also reasoned that in Shakespeare’s will, he never mentioned anything about his plays. The same can be said to Oxford. If he in fact wrote the plays, then why did he not state this in his will? The date and the circumstances of Oxford is the dispute among scholars. The historical records and his way of life are concrete proof that he is aware of the aristocrat’s way of life, compared to Shakespeare, who did not lead a life of luxury. Oxford’s uncle, The Earl of Surrey, originated the sonnet form today which has been used in Shakespeare’s sonnets. (Propson, 46). The question on who wrote this becomes more and more difficult to answer because of this. Oxford received his BA from Cambridge University and his masters from Oxford University. He was also sent to study law at Gray’s Inn. This only comes to show that he is absolutely knowledgeable of the topics that have been discussed in Shakespeare’s 37 plays. Like most of the characters in Shakespeare’s plays, Oxford was not domesticated by marriage. He was famous for getting in trouble which initiated the wrath of his father-in-law. As a young man, Oxford accidentally killed another man. A lot of Shakespeare’s plays show one character killing another. Historical records show that Oxford and his companions traveled on the road from Gravesend to Rochester. This is similar to â€Å"Henry the Fourth, Part One. † For some reason, the account in the play also provides the full detail of the assault that is similar to Oxford and his men. Once Oxfordians dug this information up, they used it as another important bullet point in their hypothesis. Oxford was also notorious for his martial prowess. He excelled in sports. He was also good with words. He knew how to provide a vast content of narrative using vocabulary, metaphor and imagery. This is evident in Shakespeare’s plays. Another factor that adds up to the confirmation of the Oxfordian’s claim is that Oxford conceived theatrical entertainment for the Queen of Whitehall. He was given a lease to the Blackfriars Theater. He was the patron of other writers and he was known by members of various acting companies. He was one of the first recipients of the literary dedications written by writers Edmund Spenser and John Lyly. He was regarded to be one of England’s most excellent writers. To give more proof on the thesis statement of this paper is the fact that Oxford traveled extensively. He visited France and Italy. Sicily provided the backdrop for Shakespeare’s plays set in Italy. Oxford had a home in Venice. His ship was once attacked by pirates during one voyage. Again, this is another scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays – â€Å"Twelfth Night. † Another historical account of Oxford as Shakespeare is when his brother-in-law Peregrin Bertrie reports upon his return that while having a banquet at Elsinore, â€Å"a whole volley of all the great shot of the castle discharged. † This very account is the line of Shakespeare’s Cluadius in â€Å"Hamlet. † (Propson, 42) However, there are still gaps, especially toward the later years of his life. In 1958, there had been anonymous publications and performances of Shakespearean plays like Titus Andronicus, Richard the second and Romeo and Juliet. That time, the first quarto bore the name William Shakespeare as the author. That very year, Francis Meres published his works â€Å"Palladis Tamia† and credits â€Å"Shakespeare. † At the same time, he identifies the playwright Edward de Vere as â€Å"the best for comedy amongst us. † The 1604 problem will always prevent Oxfordian scholars to completely conclude that Oxford is the real Shakespeare but that does not stop them from presenting concrete facts in what they believe in. They reach a point wherein they count the number of plays Shakespeare release in a year. They wondered about the inconsistency. They say that in 1593 to 1603, Shakespeare published two plays in a year. Then he stopped writing in 1604 and started publishing five years later. (Propson, 45) Other Oxfordian claims is the fact that Shakespeare was not mourned for in his death. Upon Mark Twain’s observation, â€Å"When Shakespeare died in Stratford, it was not an event. It made no stir in England than the death of any other forgotten theater-actor would have made. Nobody came down from London; there were no lamenting poems, no eulogies, no national tears – there was merely silence, and nothing more. A striking contrast with what happened when Ben Jonson, and Francis Bacon, and Spencer, and Raleigh and the other literary folk of Shakespeare’s time passed from life! No praiseful voice was lifted for the lost Bard of Avon. † (Simpson, 138) Until now, the Oxfordian theory is popular amongst writers, scholars, researchers and actors. The debate between the Oxfordians and the Stratfordians (those who believe that Shakespeare is the real author of his works) continue.

Great Gatsby Analysis Essays

Great Gatsby Analysis Essays Great Gatsby Analysis Paper Great Gatsby Analysis Paper The descriptions of individual characters and settings convey ethical and moral judgments of a society. In the Great Gatsby, the descriptions of the Eggs, the â€Å"valley of ashes†, Gatsby, and the Buchanans all convey the judgment that the upper class of the society are shallow, empty and hollow and therefore, lacking morals and ethics and because of this, that the American dream has failed as citizens have become obsessed with the material aspect of the American dream rather than the spiritual aspect. Firstly, one of the settings described in the Great Gatsby is the contrast of West and East Egg. The descriptions are highly symbolic and convey that the upper class of the society is lacking in morality and ethics because it has been corrupted by material wealth and power that comes from this wealth. In the novel, West Egg and its citizens represent the newly rich, while East Egg and its citizens represent the old aristocracy. East is symbolic of wealth and corruption, west of morality. In the story, east is symbolic of wealth and the corruption it causes. In the east, having money is having power, and that power corrupts. Indeed, in the east, few truly take responsibility for their actions. Early in the story, Jordan Baker is nearly suggested in the newspapers to have moved her ball from a bad lie in the semi-finals of a golf tournament. Witnesses later said they might have been wrong, no doubt with the encouragement of Jordans money. Also, when Daisy ran into Myrtle, she didn’t stop the car. : In the corrupt East, people don’t take responsibility for their actions. The west, on the other hand, is symbolic for morality. The west was known for its values and its work ethic. Nick refers to the place as the warm center of the world. Nick later talks of the west as the place where â€Å"houses are called by the name of the family†. With all of its morality, the west was still unfashionable, people (eg. Gatsby and Nick) wanted to move to East Egg drawn by the wealth and care-free attitude. However, as Nick says, â€Å"we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly inadaptable to Eastern life. This means that Nick and Gatsby will never get there because they lacked taste. Fitzgerald portrays the newly rich (west eggers) as being vulgar, gaudy, ostentatious, and lacking in social graces and taste. Gatsby, for example, lives in a monstrously ornate, gothic mansion, wears a pink suit, drives a Rolls-Royce, and does not pick up on subtle social signals, such as the insincerity of the Sloane’s’ invitation to lunch. In contrast, the old aristocracy (east eggers) possesses grace, taste, subtlety, and elegance, epitomized by the Buchanan’s’ tasteful home and the flowing white dresses of Daisy and Jordan Baker. What the old aristocracy possesses in taste, however, it seems to lack in heart, as the East Eggers prove themselves careless, inconsiderate bullies who are so used to money’s ability to ease their minds that they never worry about hurting others. The Buchanan’s exemplify this stereotype when, at the end of the novel, they simply move to a new house far away rather than condescend to attend Gatsby’s funeral. Gatsby, on the other hand, whose recent wealth derives from criminal activity, has a sincere and loyal heart, remaining outside Daisy’s window until four in the morning in Chapter VII simply to make sure that Tom does not hurt her. Ironically, Gatsby’s good qualities (loyalty and love) lead to his death, as he takes the blame for killing Myrtle rather than letting Daisy be punished, and the Buchanan’s bad qualities (fickleness and selfishness) allow them to remove themselves from the tragedy not only physically but psychologically. This shows that the upper class of the society has no morals or ethics because they have been corrupted with excessive materialistic wealth. This conveys the materialistic excesses the 1920s and the decline of the American dream. Secondly, the road from West Egg to New York City exemplifies decay. It is a valley of ashes, a place of uninterrupted desolation. It is where the rich dump their troubles and this conveys that the rich are immoral and unethical because they’re living in luxury using the valley of ashes as a â€Å"bin† whilst the lower class people living in the valley are poor and living in poverty. It is described as; â€Å"a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens, where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air† (p. 27) The valley was first introduced in chapter 2. Described as a gloomy land created by the dumping of â€Å"industrial ashes,† the valley acquires a sense of decay. It seems as if the rich, men like Tom Buchanan and Gatsby dump their â€Å"ashes† (their troubles) in the valley, with nothing but concern for themselves. This connects with the rest of the book, as Tom and Daisy are seen as a â€Å"reckless† couple, and one that only care about themselves. The eyes of Dr. Eckleburg symbolize in this chapter advertising and materialism gone mad, one of the central themes of the plot. Fitzgeralds description of the drawbridge and passing barges makes an allusion to the River Styx, a mythological river which one crosses to enter the realm of the dead. This descriptions shows that this is a place of poverty and troubles where troubles â€Å"dumped† by the rich eggers to rot and die; the valley was the place of murder (Myrtle getting run over by Daisy, chapter 8). The murder was also the result of two rich men, Tom (had an affair with Myrtle) and Gatsby (let Daisy drive). So, the valley of ashes does in fact represent a place of decadence; a place where the rich dump their â€Å"ashes† (or troubles). The novels only non-wealthy characters live in the valley of ashes; it is the grim underside to the self-indulgence of the Eggs, and of New York City. George Wilson, Myrtles dejected husband, seems almost already dead â€Å"walking through her husband as if he were a ghost. † (p. 28) and made of ashes: ashen dust veiled his dark suit and pale hair. This dust that is around and the fact that Wilson is ghostlike portrays how desolate and dead the valley of ashes is. Everything is grey and covered by ashes and in contrast to the rich vibrant colours in East and West Egg, the â€Å"valley of ashes† can be seen as a very grim place where people live in poverty even though they live right next door to people with more wealth than th ey need (the eggers) This can be related back to the failure of the American dream because even though there is great wealth in the society, it has not been distributed evenly and people are still in poverty. Fitzgerald represents poverty as lying beneath wealth and providing the wealthy with a dumping ground. It is what the wealthy wish to avoid seeing at all costs. Through the descriptions of the â€Å"valley of ashes,† we see how immoral the rich upper class are to just dump their troubles there without thinking about what it might mean for the people living there. They are only caring about their personal comfort. Thirdly, through the descriptions made of Gatsby, we see the immorality of the society at the time through the illusion of Gatsby’s dream and how the original spiritual aspect of the American dream has gone and made way for xcessive materialism. He stretched out his arms towards the dark water in a curious way, and, far as I was from him, I could have sworn he was trembling. Involuntarily I glanced seaward and distinguished nothing except a single green light, minute and far away, that might have been the end of a dock. When I looked once more for Gatsby he ha d vanished, and I was alone again in the unquiet darkness. (p. 16) In our first acquaintance with the green light, we see Gatsby reaching out for it, almost, in a way, worshipping it. We find out later that this green light is at the end of Daisys dock, and is a symbol for Gatsbys dream and the hope for the future. Green is the color of promise, hope, and renewal so it is fitting that Gatsbys dream of a future with Daisy be represented physically in the novel by this green light. Later, in the final chapter of this novel, Fitzgerald compares Gatsbys green light to the green breast of the new world (115), comparing Gatsbys dream of rediscovering Daisy to the explorers discovery of America and the promise of a new continent. However, Gatsbys dream is tarnished by his material possessions, â€Å"the colossal significance of that green light had vanished forever,† (p. 90) The means corrupt the end, and Gatsbys dream dies because of Daisy, Gatsby, and Toms carelessness and superficiality, as does Gatsby for the same reasons. At the end of the first chapter, we see Gatsby reaching out for the green light, a symbol for the hope and promise of the future, almost in the attitude of a worshiper. This is the first suggestion Fitzgerald gives us that Gatsbys quest for Daisy is more than just a physical endeavor, but a spiritual one as well. Also in this chapter, we see Gatsby, after the car accident, looking over Daisy from her yard, trying to protect her. His watch over her window is compared to a vigil, and while Nick talked to Gatsby that night, he sensed that his presence was ruining the sacredness of the moment. However, Gatsbys vigil was over nothing Daisy was never in her room that night much like Gatsbys dream is over a nonexistent person. The Daisy he met and fell in love with years ago is not the same person anymore, and as much as Gatsby thinks that he can repeat the past, in the real world it is proven to be impossible. On one level, Fitzgerald gives us Gatsbys dream as a spiritual quest, but on another level, we find out that this is yet another reason why his dream fails. His faith is misplaced, because the object of his quest is nothing more than Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is also associated with moonlight/starlight and artificial light. For example when Jordan is talking about Gatsby with Nick, Gatsby is described as dispensing, â€Å"starlight to casual moths,† The starlight/moonlight is representative of the fantasy/illusion or unreachable quality of Gatsby’s dream, this quote is saying that his dream is unreachable and doomed from the beginning because he wants Daisy (the â€Å"casual moth†) who is attracted to artificial light which is representative of the material means that he hopes to attract Daisy. There is a lot of proof of this in chapter 5 when Daisy and Gatsby meet for the first time, Gatsby describes the front of his house as, â€Å"catching the light,† (p. 7) the front of his house faces Daisy so he is trying to attract Daisy with his vast material wealth which is represented by the artificial light. Even though Gatsby is an, â€Å"ecstatic patron of recurring light,† he is giving lots of light to attract Daisy, we know his dream is doomed from the start because Dais y has, â€Å"snapped out the lights,† (p. 17) Therefore, Fitzgerald is saying that the spirituality of the American dream is misplaced because of our obsession with material wealth, which creates a sort of national delusion and this conveys an immoral judgment of the society. Fourthly, the descriptions of the Daisy convey an immoral and unethical judgment of the upper class in society by showing the shallowness, hollowness and idleness of them. When we first meet Daisy at the Buchanan’s mansion, she is described as; â€Å"Buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon†¦their dresses were rippling and fluttering. † This quote establishes the fact that Daisy is shallow and hollow because they are so purposeless that they just sit there and go where the wind â€Å"blows them. † This is reinforced when it says, â€Å"sometimes she and Miss Baker talked at once†¦their impersonal eyes in the absence of all desire. (p. 17) And when Daisy remarks that, â€Å"I’ve been lying on the sofa for as long as I can remember. † (p. 16) This conveys the idleness and purposeless way of life the Daisy follows. The description of Daisy’s voice also conveys the hollowness and shallowness of Daisy. For example, Nick says that, à ¢â‚¬Å"her voice compelled me forward breathlessly as I listened-then the glow faded, each light deserting her with lingering regret†¦her voice glowing and singing. † (pg. 19) and â€Å"as if each speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again. † (p. 14). These suggest the hollowness of Daisy Buchanan because although her voice and her stunning beauty draw people in. When they â€Å"lean in† to hear what she actually has to say, they hear â€Å"nothing† because she is empty and hollow. Also, a lot of Daisy’s descriptions are associated with white light. In the Great Gatsby, white represents emptiness or hollowness. This is associated with Daisy a lot because she is empty and hollow, for example Nick describes Daisy at Daisy’s house, â€Å"They were both in white,† (p. 13) and â€Å"white dresses† (p. 17). Another theme that Daisy is associated with is materialistic wealth. For example, Nick says that, â€Å"Her voice is full of money. †(p. 115) She is attracted to money, she is not pure, she is yellow (has a dazzling appeal) eg. â€Å"two rows of brass buttons on her dress gleamed in the sunlight. † We see that the only reason that she is attracted to Gatsby is because of his great material wealth. We know this because Daisy tells Gatsby that he, â€Å"resembles the advertisement of the man,† (p. 114). This statement confirms that Daisy does not like Gatsby for himself, but for the wealth and superficial illusion he represents. Daisy is associated with darkness/twilight, for example she is at the beginning of the novel, she says â€Å"why candles? † and then, â€Å"snapped them out with her fingers. †(p. 17) also while Gatsby is watching for Daisy in case Tom acts violently to her, she, â€Å"comes to the window†¦then turned out the light. † (p. 140) This is symbolic of Daisy’s â€Å"snapping out,† or destruction or Gatsby’s dream because she is turning off the light on Gatsby’s dream and not giving him a chance of fulfilling, therefore the dream is doomed from the start. Daisy is also representative of the American Dream and because she has snapped out the light on Gatsby’s dream, it shows the disintegration of the American Dream. This shows the immorality of Daisy who is representative of the upper class in society because she is so obsessed with materialistic aspect of the American dream rather than the spiritual aspect. Lastly, we can say that Tom Buchanan, who is another representative of the upper class, is also hollow because of the descriptions given of him. For example, at Tom’s house when Nick first goes over, he suddenly exclaims, â€Å"If we don’t look out, the white race will be utterly submerged. It’s scientific stuff; it’s been proved. † (p. 18) This racism and utter nonsense shows the shallowness of Tom because not only does he make racist remarks, he doesn’t know what he is talking about when he says that, â€Å"it’s been proven. † Tom’s beliefs are hypocritical but lack moral caliber, compassions and idealism. In the same section, Tom is described as, â€Å"hovering restlessly around the room,† (p. 15). This shows like Daisy, he seems to want to do something but is unsure of what to do. Also, we notice that Tom is associated with words of movement (â€Å"shifting and moved by â€Å") and this can again be seen in relation to Fitzgerald’s description of him and his wife as wealthy drifters. What is interesting about Tom’s cruel body is that normally cruel is referred to a person and not to a body. Fitzgerald doesn’t write that Tom is cruel but that his body is cruel, suggesting problematically a separation between his body and his character, as if Tom’s cruel sensuality may assert itself despite his will. The fact that Tom’s cruel body comes so close in the text to the description of his muscles almost bursting through his clothes suggests that the purely animal, physical part of his nature (his cruel body) is capable of bursting out instinctively at any moment, as indeed it does. In fact Tom bruises Daisy’s finger and breaks Myrtle Wilson’s nose in a rage. This shows the hollowness of Tom because he can’t control his violence or actions. Tom never considers living up to the standards he expects of people around him. For example, he doesn’t want Gatsby to take Daisy away from him going to great length to â€Å"investigate him,† while he is oblivious to the double standard in his practice of maintaining sexual relationships with other women, like Myrtle. Therefore, Tom has values, but they’re conveniences, easily disposed of as the whim takes him and he is only physically powerful. This shows the shallowness, hollowness of the upper class and conveys the judgment that they are lacking in ethics and morals.

Unhackneyed Ideas for College Graduation Pictures

Unhackneyed Ideas for College Graduation Pictures Graduating college is certainly something to celebrate, but it is also expensive! Not only do you have to cover the cost of your robe and cap along with a new outfit and other associated costs, but you will also find yourself paying for professional college graduation pictures. Some colleges will provide a photographer on the day that you can book time with, but often the resulting images are somewhat boring. Everyone gets the same pose and the same setting. These pictures are going to commemorate your college experience, so wouldn’t you rather have college graduation pictures that reflect your personality? That’s why we’ve gone in search of some unhackneyed ideas for more interesting grad photos! 1 Ditch the Robes Completely We love the idea of bucking convention completely and losing the traditional cap and robes. This college graduate decided to ditch the robes and have her college graduation pictures done in a pretty dress instead. However, she did include a clever nod to the occasion by writing Class of 2014 on the soles of her stylish cowgirl books! Photo Credit: Tiffany Ellis Photography 2 – Send a Message Using chalkboard signs is an increasingly popular prop in all sorts of photography, but we particularly like the way it has been put to use in these college graduation pictures. Let’s face it: Most students rely heavily on their parents to get through college either financially or just for emotional support. Why not take this opportunity to thanks mom dad for putting you through your higher education? Photo Credit:  Jimmy Song Photography 3 – Don’t Look Back Who says college graduation pictures must be a traditional portrait? One of our favourite grad pictures is this striking image which doesn’t even show the student’s face. She has her robes slung over her shoulder and is walking off to begin her new life as a graduate. It’s cool and stylish and sends the message that there is no looking back – focus on the future! Photo Credit:  Paige Vaughn Photography 4 – It’s Not All About Academia For some college graduates, the focus has not necessarily been on academics. Some students excel in other aspects of college life such as sports. If this is the case, then maybe that is what you want to highlight in your college graduation pictures. This graduate used his photos to demonstrate his college basketball career. Photo Credit: Scott Martinez Photography 5 – Choose Candid College Graduation Pictures Sometimes, the best photographs are the ones that are not posed. We adore this candid shot where the student has glanced back towards the audience, perhaps seeking out her parents in the crowd. Have your photographer take some candid shots instead of formal portraits for a cool twist on your grad photos! Photo Credit: Dixie Dixon 6 – Chalk It Up! If you like a simple yet striking portrait with a little creativity then you might want to try this cute chalkboard idea! Decorate a chalkboard with the graduation year and have the student stand in to represent the number one! Photo Credit: Franklin Photography 7 – Illustrate the Journey It’s been a long road getting to graduation, so why not show that in your college graduation pictures? Grab your first day of school portrait – you know mom still has it – and hold it in your graduation portrait to show just how far you have come since that first day of your academic career! Photo Credit: Alma Montelongo aka â€Å"The Mamarazzi† 8 – All About the Tassel One of the iconic moments in any graduation ceremony has to be the tassel, so make it the focal point of your college graduation pictures. We’ve seen a lot of grad photos where the photo is zoomed in on the tassel, but it’s been done time and time again, so this one puts a fun twist on it with the student holding a sign proclaiming that ‘the tassel was worth the hassle’! It’s a really cute idea! Photo Credit: KBWilliams Photography Design 9 – Show Your School Spirit You may be saying goodbye to college, but it will always hold a special place in your heart. We love the idea of capturing school spirit in your college graduation pictures by incorporating the mascot into your portraits. We love this fun shot of a new grad sitting in the lap of the school mascot’s statue. It’s fun and unusual but with a nod to school traditions. Photo Credit:  Bryan Miraflor These are just a handful of ideas that can help you take your college grad photos to another level. Don’t settle for a boring portrait like everyone else. Make it fun and full of personality! This is a big day in your life and you want to remember it, so step out of the ordinary and create something special to commemorate the occasion. And dont forget to have fun after the official part of the graduation day. Check out graduation party ideas to make this day legendary!

History before 1877 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History before 1877 - Essay Example Slaves who bore no rights were in high demand to provide for cheap labor. A large wave of Europeans immigrated to the United States of America in the 19th century (Wolff 56). The famous Potato famine in Ireland was also another factor that pushed these groups to migrate to the United States for greener pastures. Due to the economic depression accompanied by religious intolerance in Germany, many Catholics were obliged to migrate (Chang 124). The immigration of Europeans to the United States was of great benefit it spurred economic growth. To start with, due to rapid industrialization, there was the need for cheap labor. Second, the United States began claiming land from the Spanish and the Northern America native people. Nevertheless, the populous immigration was a threat to certain groups of people as it was deemed to tamper with the peace and harmony of the citizens (Herron 307). Europeans remarkably made up the majority of migrants during the end of the twentieth century. However, this changed in the late twentieth century, when they were replaced by migrants from Latin America and Asia (Chang, 411). A bulk of them came from Mexico, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Korean, India, and the Dominican Republic. Population growth and industrialization are the convulsive demographic and economic factors that attracted migrants to America: the land of opportunity and freedom (Chang, 411). Immigrants in the past and present have contributed to the American economy in different perspectives. However, it is evident that they have played a critical role in shaping the destiny of the country. No doubt, America will continue to grow, demand and attract the strong willing unskilled laborers for many years to come (Chang, 411). With increased numbers of immigrants between 1860 and 1915, conflict arose due to competition for resources. It became necessary to regulate the